The article presents the results of the research conducted by the author, devoted to the study of the issue of childhood infectious diseases, in the presentation of philatelic material from different countries of the world, in various means of philately - on postage stamps and envelopes, as well as on other means of collecting. In total, this research, author's article presents 120 philatelic materials.

Aim of the article

In accordance with the stated objectives of the conducted research, its purpose is: collection, analysis, ordering and classification of the obtained materials, for their presentation in the form of a research article, presenting the volume of philatelic materials on childhood infections and the vaccination process in children.

Research objectives

1. Collect source, thematic philatelic materials (postage stamps and envelopes), using special philatelic publications (catalogues, reference books, thematic articles in specialized publications for collectors, as well as thematic blogs and pages on the Internet. 

2. Analyze and classify the information obtained during the study.

3. The selected philatelic material should be converted into illustrative screeshot copies, providing them with appropriate brief comments.

Hypothesis of the article

During the preparation for conducting his research, the author put forward the following hypothesis, the essence of which is as follows: there is a fairly large number of collectible philatelic materials dedicated to the most common childhood infectious diseases.

Childhood morbidity worldwide, despite the undoubted successes in their prevention, diagnosis and treatment, remains a very important and pressing issue. In the structure of childhood morbidity worldwide, a significant part of it is occupied by infectious diseases of childhood. Infectious diseases such as measles, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, chickenpox, meningitis, scarlet fever, and added to them (in recent years) - HIV infection and COVID-19, significantly affect the child population. The existing vaccination calendars used in many countries of the world regulate the vaccination process, but due to a number of serious objective and subjective factors, the vaccination order specified in these calendars is shifted - either due to a number of contraindications, or due to its ignoring (consciously or unconsciously) by the parents of the children themselves, which has been discussed a lot in the world and regional media and at pediatric congresses, conferences and congresses [1-3, 6]. An important role in the organization, financing and logistics of the vaccination process for various infectious diseases, including childhood infections, is taken on by such international organizations as WHO, UNICEF, charitable, transnational organizations such as LIONS, ROTARY, philatelic materials about the activities of which will be presented by the authors further in this article [1-3].The important problem of children's infectious processes, and vaccination against most dangerous infections, did not remain aloof from the means of world philately. On postage miniatures of many and different years of issue (in different countries of the world), both these formidable "children's" infections themselves and the vaccination process did not remain without attention [1-7]. 

This study, conducted by the authors of this article, was aimed at revealing another facet of multifaceted preventive work on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of childhood infectious diseases, but already in the means of philately, which is a hobby and area of ​​passion for many children and adults and, in this regard, is a very effective means of agitation and prevention (with all the originality and creativity of the approach), in the matter of combating the spread of childhood infectious diseases.

The author, when conducting this study, actively used such methods as selection of specialized, thematic literature and other available sources of information (both domestic and foreign; thematic articles in medical publications and specialized publications for collectors, their literary-critical analysis, with the selection and systematization of the obtained volume of information. Reference and encyclopedic literature, domestic and foreign philatelic materials and, naturally, Internet data on the issue under study were actively used.

It should be noted that there are so many philatelic materials on the issue of childhood infections and their vaccine prevention that it is impossible to present them in the illustrative section of this small-volume (according to editorial requirements) author's research article. In this regard, the authors took the liberty of selecting the most striking and informative examples, realizing their true number in the depths of world philately. I would like to begin my article with a presentation of philatelic miniatures telling about infectious diseases inherent in childhood. Both domestic and (often) postage stamps are used for this. In particular, I would like to note that we found a significant number of philatelic materials (postage stamps and envelopes) from different countries of the world, testifying to the importance and necessity of vaccination calendars, with a list of the main infectious diseases of childhood on these philatelic miniatures. Figure 1 shows a small selection of such philatelic materials [1-3; 5-7]. 

                                                                         Figure 1. Childhood immunization and the importance of vaccinations

In particular, in Figure 2, on postage stamps and a small number of non-postage stamps, such childhood infections as measles, polio, tetanus, and diphtheria are presented [1-3; 5-7]. 

                                                        Figure 2. The most common childhood infectious diseases, as reflected in philatelic means

A separate philatelic selection (postage stamps and a postcard), in Figure 3, presents tuberculosis, which quite often affects children and adolescents, as well as vaccination (the famous BCG) against it [1-3; 5-7]. 

                                                                                                             Figure 3. Tuberculosis and vaccination against it 

Separately, in Figure 4, a small philatelic selection (postage stamps, maximum cards, postcard) from different countries of the world is presented, dedicated to the incidence of poliomyelitis and the fight against it, naturally, including the process of vaccination against it [1-3; 5-7]. Many philatelic miniatures bear a portrait of the famous doctor, Nobel Prize laureate in medicine - for this invention, Jonas Salk (Dr Jonas Salk), the author of the world-famous vaccine against poliomyelitis [1-3; 5-7].

                                                                                                                       Figure 4. Poliomyelitis and its vaccination

 Figure 5 shows a small selection of postage stamps from around the world that are thematically dedicated to the importance of the vaccination process and immunization in order to contain the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19 [1-3; 5-7].  

                                                                        Figure 5. Vaccination of children and adults against coronavirus COVID-19

It should be noted that there are so many philatelic materials on the issue of childhood infections and their vaccine prevention that it is impossible to present them in the illustrative section of this small-volume (according to editorial requirements) author's research article. In this regard, the authors took the liberty of selecting the most striking and informative examples, realizing their true number in the depths of world philately. I would like to begin my article with a presentation of philatelic miniatures telling about infectious diseases inherent in childhood. Both domestic and (often) postage stamps are used for this. In particular, I would like to note that we found a significant number of philatelic materials (postage stamps and envelopes) from different countries of the world, testifying to the importance and necessity of vaccination calendars, with a list of the main infectious diseases of childhood on these philatelic miniatures. Figure 1 shows a small selection of such philatelic materials [1-3; 5-7]. 

                                                                         Figure 1. Childhood immunization and the importance of vaccinations

In particular, in Figure 2, on postage stamps and a small number of non-postage stamps, such childhood infections as measles, polio, tetanus, and diphtheria are presented [1-3; 5-7]. 

                                                        Figure 2. The most common childhood infectious diseases, as reflected in philatelic means

A separate philatelic selection (postage stamps and a postcard), in Figure 3, presents tuberculosis, which quite often affects children and adolescents, as well as vaccination (the famous BCG) against it [1-3; 5-7]. 

                                                                                                             Figure 3. Tuberculosis and vaccination against it 

Separately, in Figure 4, a small philatelic selection (postage stamps, maximum cards, postcard) from different countries of the world is presented, dedicated to the incidence of poliomyelitis and the fight against it, naturally, including the process of vaccination against it [1-3; 5-7]. Many philatelic miniatures bear a portrait of the famous doctor, Nobel Prize laureate in medicine - for this invention, Jonas Salk (Dr Jonas Salk), the author of the world-famous vaccine against poliomyelitis [1-3; 5-7].

                                                                                                                       Figure 4. Poliomyelitis and its vaccination

 Figure 5 shows a small selection of postage stamps from around the world that are thematically dedicated to the importance of the vaccination process and immunization in order to contain the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19 [1-3; 5-7].  

                                                                        Figure 5. Vaccination of children and adults against coronavirus COVID-19

1. This article by the authors confirms the medical axiom about the importance and value of the immunization process, both for children and adults. 

2. The materials presented in this article by the authors, primarily illustrative, representing different types of philately, convincingly showed that childhood infectious diseases and their immunoprophylaxis are an important part of the treatment process, which requires further improvement and more active implementation in the practice of the treatment process. 

3. Philately, as one of the most important means of collecting, is fully capable of objectively, accessibly and effectively conveying any medical information to its specific consumer - a collector or a keen collector, including a medical worker. 

4. Bright, colorful and accessible information carried by philatelic miniatures takes an active part in health education work in medicine and biology, including, and in the issue of practical application in young patients, with childhood infectious diseases. 

5. The results and analysis of the research conducted by the author fully confirmed the hypothesis of his research. 

6. In total, this research, author's article presents 120 philatelic materials.