Diphtheria, One of the Most Serious Infectious Diseases, Is Vaccinated Against Free of Charge for Both Children and Adults
According to the National Public Health Centre (NPHC), the last recorded case of diphtheria in Lithuania was over a decade ago. However, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has raised concerns due to a sharp increase in the number of cases. This year, a child death from the disease was also reported in neighbouring Latvia.
"We are constantly monitoring and analyzing the situation in European countries, and we have observed that the most recent diphtheria cases in Europe were recorded in 2022, with 4 cases in France and 6 in Switzerland. Although the last case of diphtheria in Lithuania was recorded in 2011 (in a person aged 55–64), we cannot afford to forget about this disease. It is crucial to check if your children are vaccinated according to the childhood preventive vaccination calendar and to ask yourself when you were last vaccinated against diphtheria," emphasizes Daiva Razmuvienė, Chief Specialist at the Communicable Disease Management Division of NPHC.
In recent years, the percentage of children vaccinated against diphtheria has reached around 90%, but adult vaccination rates, which are provided free of charge, have been slower. For instance, 33,367 adults were vaccinated last year, and 23,277 the year before.
Vaccination prevents the disease
As a reminder, according to the Preventive Vaccination Schedule for Childrenin Lithuania, infants and children are vaccinated against diphtheria with a combination vaccine (which also protects against tetanus and whooping cough) at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 18 months, with booster doses at ages 6–7 and 15–16.
“To maintain reliable long-term protection against this infection, adults need to be vaccinated every 5–10 years (according to the vaccination schedule). People over the age of 26 are vaccinated against diphtheria every decade, free of charge,” NPHC reminds.
What is diphtheria?
Diphtheria is an acute, airborne, and highly fatal infectious disease. It is caused by the diphtheria bacillus (Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and rarely Corynebacterium ulcerans or Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis), a microorganism that releases a powerful toxin responsible for the symptoms of diphtheria. This toxin can damage various organs, leading to serious complications. The bacteria typically infect the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract (nose, throat, pharynx, tonsils, and the upper part of the trachea), though they can also affect the eyes, genital tract, skin, and wounds.
Last updated: 27-09-2024
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