Latvia

Health systems in transition
Latvia
Table 1.6 Levels of immunization (%), 2005
Measles (16–23 months) 95.0
Polio (2 years old) 95.6
Rubella (16–23 months) 95.0
Hepatitis B (1 year old) 98.1
Neonatal tetanus (2 years old) 95.6
Diphtheria (2 years old) 95.6
Whooping cough (2 years old) 95.0
Mumps (16–23 months) 98.7
Source: HSMTSA 2007b.
Welfare adopted the State Immunization Programme 2001–2005, one of the tasks
of which was to reach immunization levels recommended by WHO, involving
at least 95% of the total child population. The State Immunization Programme
contains a Vaccination Calendar defining children’s’ vaccination schedule.
Although not all children are vaccinated in accordance with this schedule, the
immunization levels recommended by WHO have been reached.
A key problem concerns the high level of morbidity among adults due to
diphtheria, caused by shortages of vaccination supplies. Morbidity due to other
vaccination-dependent diseases is extremely low.
In 2002 and 2003 the Public Health Agency carried out a survey on obstacles
to immunization of children of 1, 2 and 8 years of age. The immunization rate
of children aged 8 years is considered adequate: 94.8% of children have been
vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and polio; 96.5% of children against
measles; 96.3% against mumps; and 89.3% against rubella.
The most significant obstacles to vaccination revealed by the survey are
socioeconomic factors: children from disadvantaged families have lower
immunization rates. Other factors of lesser importance include change of place
of residence, change of family doctor, irregular vaccination in schools, lack
of notification about vaccination, as well as medical reasons (allergic rhinitis,
dermatitis and bronchial asthma).
The survey also reveals problems related to vaccinating institutions that
obstruct immunization. For example, only 13.5% of the total surveyed medical
institutions provide vaccinations for eight hours a day; only 9.2% of institutions
remain open after 19:00, thus limiting access for working parents.
Figure 1.2, showing Latvia’s position with respect to levels of child
immunization for measles in comparison with EU countries, indicates that in
2005 Latvia achieved 95% of immunization coverage (WHO Regional Office
for Europe 2007a). This is higher than many other countries of the region and
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