Unvaccinated child dies of diphtheria in the Czech Republic; Estonian health authority issues warning

An unvaccinated three-year-old child died of diphtheria in the Czech Republic at the end of May. The Estonian Health Board urges parents to check that their children's immunisations comply with the national vaccination schedule and reminds adults about booster vaccinations.

At the end of May, the Czech Republic registered the death of an unvaccinated three-year-old child from diphtheria. The case has prompted the Estonian Health Board to issue an appeal to draw attention to the importance of vaccination.

The Health Board recommends that all parents review whether their children's vaccinations comply with the national immunisation schedule. Vaccination against diphtheria is part of Estonia's mandatory vaccination schedule, with the first doses given to children in infancy.

The Health Board also emphasises that protection against diphtheria requires regular renewal. Adults are advised to receive booster vaccinations if more than ten years have passed since their last injection. Many people may not be aware that vaccination received in childhood may not provide lifelong protection.

Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infectious disease that can cause airway obstruction and damage to the heart muscle. In unvaccinated individuals, the disease can be fatal, as demonstrated by the tragic case in the Czech Republic. The spread of the disease has decreased significantly in Europe as a result of widespread vaccination, but isolated cases still occur.