Influenza VaccinesThe first Russian influenza vaccine appeared in the end of 1930s. It was a live attenuated influenza vaccine, produced by Anatoly Smorodintsev. Later, live cold adapted and reassortant vaccines became available. In the 1970s a technology for fabricating whole–cell and split inactivated vaccines was developed. In the beginning of the 1990s polymer–subunit vaccine was introduced. Today, most vaccines strains are genetically engineered, i.e. «constructed» out of 8 RNA plasmids that encode influenza genome. Domestic vaccines are currently represented by live influenza vaccine (LIV), Grippovak whole–cell inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) and Grippol, a polymer–subunit influenza vaccine with immune modulating Polyoxidonium. Grippol vaccine is approved for use in all age groups, 6 months and older, with minimum of contraindications, unlike live and inactivated vaccines. There are several foreign inactivated split and subunit vaccines approved for use in Russia: Vaxigripe (France), Begrivac (Germany), Fluarix (Germany and Belgium), which all are split vaccines, and subunit vaccines Influvac (Netherlands) and Agrippal (Italy). In Russia, free mass vaccinations are conducted according to the National Calendar of Prophylactic Immunizations, established by the Ministry of Health. The Calendar defines vaccination schedule by type of disease, age groups, and occupation/activity. Influenza vaccination is done annually for children over 6 months, adults over 60, 1–11 grade school students, college and university students, healthcare, transport and social workers. List of influenza vaccines authorized for use in Russia
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
