The Budget for the War Against Ukraine Is Destroying Healthcare: Vaccination Collapse in the rf

At the end of 2025, russia is facing a major crisis in the field of immunoprophylaxis. Vaccine purchases have been reduced to a minimum: medications against meningococcal infection cover only 13 % of the demand, while vaccines against human papillomavirus cover only 5 %. The decline in procurement volumes also affects basic medicines from the National Preventive Vaccination Calendar – measles, rubella, mumps, diphtheria, and whooping cough. While more than 40 billion rubles were allocated for tenders in 2024, this amount was reduced to 6.5 billion in 2025.

The consequences are reflected in the incidence statistics: measles increased elevenfold, rubella – sixfold, and whooping cough – four and a half times. Epidemiologists directly link this to a decline in herd immunity caused by insufficient vaccination. Experts in the field point out the failure of state policy: 70 % rate immunoprophylaxis measures as unsatisfactory, and 60 % cite a lack of budget funds as the main reason.

The official explanation from the ministry of healthcare of the rf boils down to a “strategy for the development of immunoprophylaxis until 2035” and dependence on the production of russian “full cycle” vaccines. At the same time, it is clear that the key factor is the priority given to financing the war against Ukraine, which is crowding out healthcare spending. Against this background, an additional catalyst is the anti-vaccination movement, which is gaining momentum in russian society and is effectively becoming an ally of the authorities in destroying the vaccination system.

Thus, russia is entering a phase of large-scale epidemiological threat. The combination of budget cuts, vaccine shortages, and social attitudes creates conditions for the uncontrolled spread of dangerous infections. This not only undermines internal stability but also poses risks to neighboring countries.