In many countries as well as in Russia, vaccination is mandatory, which is formalized in legislation. In this country, vaccination is regulated by the Federal Law No. 157 of 17.09.1998 “On infectious disease immunization”, and the Russian Ministry of Health Order No. 125n of 21.03.2014 that approved the updated National Immunization Schedule, and the Epidemics Immunization Schedule. Since 2006, annual influenza vaccination has been on the National Immunization Schedule. In 2014, such diseases as viral hepatitis B, tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, haemophilus influenza, measles, epidemic roseola, epidemic parotitis, infantile paralysis, and influenza, were supplemented by pneumococcal infection, which makes 12 diseases in total. Importantly, more than 90% of the vaccines under the National Immunization Schedule are manufactured by local companies.
R&D efforts in respect of new efficacious vaccines are continuously underway. Currently, there are more than 100 new vaccines at different development stages, including those against especially dangerous diseases, hepatitis C as well as universal influenza, and HIV vaccines.