By News Room
The numbers are rising
In early April 2023, the Republican Center for Immunoprophylaxis (RCI) reported 41 measles cases recorded since early 2023 in Kyrgyzstan. At the end of April, this number, still according to the center, had already increased to 178. The increase in one month was more than 400%.
If we consider the statistics by region, the greatest number of cases of infection occurred in the south of the republic, in the Osh region. At the beginning of April, 20 cases were identified there, and by the end – more than 100. In Osh itself, this ratio was seven to 40. As for the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic, the numbers in Bishkek do not look frightening. Only eight cases since the beginning of the year.
According to RCI Director Gulbara Ishenapysova, the epidemiological situation of measles and rubella in Kyrgyzstan remains tense. “Basically, children who haven’t been vaccinated are getting sick,” she said.
There are several reasons why parents refuse to vaccinate their children, but the main one, based on official data, is religious beliefs. “This is about half of the total number of refusals to vaccinate. Then there are doubts about the quality of the medicine and the ignorance of the Kyrgyz people about the need to vaccinate children,” said Gulbara Ishenapysova.
Clergy – “for”
- Representatives of traditional Islam are in favor of vaccination. In this sense, we work in close collaboration with the Spiritual Council of Muslims (DUMK), which helps to carry out explanatory work with believers. As far as I know, the Russian Orthodox Church has also never officially advocated the refusal of medical care or vaccination. I am a believer, I read the Quran, and it does not say that one should neglect medical care or refuse to prevent diseases,” Gulbara Ishenapysova told RG correspondent.
In the summer of 2021, the Ulema Council of SAMK issued a special fatwa on vaccination against COVID-19. “Medicine can talk about the pros and cons of vaccination. If there is a decision of the Ministry of Health on the safety of a coronavirus vaccine, it does not contradict the principles of Islam. Therefore , the Ulema Council is not against vaccination against COVID-19,” the ministry said. In general, as theologians note, this fatwa demonstrates the attitude of the clergy towards vaccination in the Kyrgyz Republic.
Thanks to advocacy, the number of vaccination refusals based on religious beliefs has decreased by approximately 20% in recent years. But, according to Gulbara Ishenapysova, there are still a lot of refuseniks – on average, from eight to 12 thousand a year.
- Thousands of people travel to Mecca and Medina every year. At the request of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, when obtaining a visa for this country, the applicant must provide medical proof of vaccination against influenza and meningitis. In my practice, I have encountered cases that are difficult to explain. For example, the head of the family went to Hajj and he was vaccinated, but at the same time he categorically refused to have his children vaccinated. I tried to convince him, I said that he had taken the necessary vaccines, so he had protected him from diseases, but it turned out that he had decided to sacrifice his children. He replied that it was meant for him to get a vaccine, but his daughter or son could not. And further in the same way… Unfortunately, doctors have no choice but to convince that vaccinations are a necessity, – added the head of RCI.
Vaccination is important and necessary
The Republican Center for Immunoprophylaxis reminds parents of the need to have their children vaccinated according to the national vaccination schedule: “Vaccines protect against 11 different diseases, and it is important to be vaccinated before the age of 18. All childhood infections are dangerous and can lead to complications For example, measles, mumps (mumps) and rubella are dangerous complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness, otitis media, which lead to disability and even death.Without vaccinations against vaccine-preventable infections, children are vulnerable.
The center ensures that most children do not experience adverse events after vaccination. “Some children may develop minor and temporary symptoms, such as pain at the injection site or a slight fever. These disappear after a few days and do not require medical attention. The vaccines used in our country are safe. Side effects are extremely rare, they are carefully monitored and investigated.There is a much greater chance of serious consequences if not vaccinated.For example, poliomyelitis can cause paralysis and measles can lead to blindness,” RCI explained.
Doctors are insisting that vaccination be carried out, even if the country does not register a large number of cases of the diseases.
- For some infections, a single case is enough to cause an epidemic. An example of this is measles, which is one of the most contagious diseases. Global epidemiological instability in the countries of the European Region and the CIS contributed to the importation, spread and outbreak of measles in the republic in 2014-2015, when unvaccinated children fell ill, stressed Gulbara Ishenapysova.
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Source: The number of measles cases has increased in Kyrgyzstan – Rossiyskaya Gazeta
Category: Asia, Health, News, World, Covid 19, Republican Party (United States), United States
