A pilot project on hepatitis B vaccination has been launched in the Kyrgyz Republic.
A pilot project to vaccinate the adult population against hepatitis B has been launched in the Kyrgyz Republic with the support of the Government of the Russian Federation. The project is being implemented as part of the technical assistance programme carried out by Rospotrebnadzor in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The project was developed by Rospotrebnadzor specialists, drawing on Russia’s successful experience in eliminating acute viral hepatitis B. In 2021, the incidence of acute hepatitis B in Russia reached its lowest level ever recorded — 0.31 per 100,000 population, which is 135 times lower than in 2000. Since 2000, more than 100 million children, adolescents, and adults have been vaccinated against hepatitis B in Russia. In 2021 alone, more than 2.2 million people were immunised, including 1.4 million children.
This new initiative is an important component of the technical assistance programme. The pilot project will help develop mechanisms and algorithms for mass immunisation, including the operation of vaccination sites within primary healthcare facilities, at workplaces, and through mobile clinics, as well as support vaccination activities through an information and communication campaign.
Free and universal access to hepatitis B vaccination, combined with immunisation at birth, will significantly reduce the spread of infection in Kyrgyzstan. It will help lower the incidence of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, reduce mortality from these diseases, and ultimately ease the burden on the healthcare system while contributing positively to the country’s economic development.
Scientists and specialists from Rospotrebnadzor will provide the necessary methodological support for the planned activities. The vaccination campaign in Kyrgyzstan will contribute to ensuring the sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the Eurasian region.
Background:
The Kyrgyz Republic is among the regions with a high prevalence of viral hepatitis of various origins. Russia’s experience demonstrates that mass, free, and publicly accessible vaccination is a highly effective method of preventing hepatitis B. Until now, no large-scale vaccination of the adult population against hepatitis B has been carried out in Kyrgyzstan; immunisation was limited to healthcare workers and other high-risk groups.
The Russian Programme for Assistance to the Countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia in the Field of Prevention, Control, and Surveillance of HIV/AIDS and Other Infectious Diseases has been implemented with the financial support of the Government of the Russian Federation since 2013.