Petrovax Pharm and the Union of Russian Pediatricians sign agreement at SPIEF to promote a culture of vaccination

On the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), the Union of Russian Pediatricians and the biopharmaceutical company Petrovax Pharm signed a cooperation agreement aimed at raising awareness among the public and the professional medical community about vaccine prevention of infectious diseases.

The initiative is being launched amid rising incidence rates of several infections, including measles and meningococcal disease, and is intended to expand public access to evidence based information on the current possibilities of immunoprophylaxis. The partnership will combine the expert potential of the professional medical community with the practical experience of the pharmaceutical industry to implement educational and awareness-raising projects at both federal and regional levels.

According to the World Health Organization^[1], vaccination prevents between 3.5 and 5 million deaths worldwide every year. At the same time, WHO has identified the spread of misinformation about vaccines as one of the global threats to public health. The absence of herd immunity has repeatedly led to outbreaks of measles, meningitis, and other dangerous infections with serious consequences. In particular, meningococcus, which can be prevented by vaccination, can claim a child’s life within 24 hours, and one in five survivors faces severe complications and disability^[2].

The agreement provides for the development and implementation of educational programs, scientific and practical conferences, roundtables, and awareness campaigns for parents, patients, and healthcare professionals. The parties intend to pay particular attention to improving public health literacy and countering the spread of pseudoscientific and unreliable information about vaccination.

According to Mikhail Tsyferov, it is essential to dispel myths about the dangers of vaccination and communicate reliable information to parents. Modern vaccines have been proven to demonstrate a strong safety profile. For example, numerous studies have shown that the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine localized at Petrovax Pharm’s facilities demonstrates not only high immunogenicity, but also has, even compared to the most common Western counterparts, two times fewer adverse events, and such events are already uncommon.

As part of the cooperation, the parties also plan to prepare analytical materials, expert recommendations, and participate in public initiatives aimed at preventing infectious diseases and developing modern approaches to protecting children’s health.

The signing of the agreement at SPIEF reflects the growing attention of the state, medical community, and business to preventive medicine. Developing a culture of vaccination and expanding immunoprophylaxis programs are becoming key factors in ensuring the country’s infectious disease security.

Background Information

The Union of Russian Pediatricians is the largest professional public organization bringing together specialists in pediatrics and child healthcare. The Union participates in educational, scientific, and social projects in pediatric healthcare and preventive medicine.