270,000 doses of tetanus and diphtheria vaccine delivered to Ukraine for routine free vaccinations for children and revaccination of adults
The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) delivered two batches of vaccine, totaling 270 thousand doses, to Ukraine. The vaccines were purchased at the expense of the French government and provided to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Distribution of the vaccine among the regions has already begun, and all regions will receive it in November.
“Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the Ministry of Health, including in cooperation with international partners, has been ensuring the uninterrupted availability of vaccines for routine vaccination at the level of each region, so that newborns can receive all mandatory vaccinations in the maternity hospital, children and adults can receive them in a medical facility and during field visits of vaccination teams to communities. Therefore, if the recommended vaccinations are missed, for example, due to moving to another city, parents should contact the nearest medical facility or family doctor and catch up.”
On 1 August, the State Commission on Technogenic and Environmental Safety and Emergencies launched an additional round of vaccination of children and revaccination of adults against diphtheria and tetanus across the country, which will last until the end of the year. At the initiative of the Ministry of Health, the Public Health Center and regional Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), with support from WHO and UNICEF, have launched additional diphtheria and tetanus immunization activities in each oblast. In August and September, 65,985 children under the age of 6 and 71,338 children aged 7 to 17 who had missed diphtheria and tetanus vaccinations earlier caught up with the additional round of immunization. In addition, 322,582 adults caught up on missed vaccinations and were revaccinated in August-September.
“War can lead to an accelerated spread of infections. UNICEF continues to procure and deliver vaccines to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases.”
Tetanus and diphtheria revaccination is recommended for adults every ten years. The vaccination is free of charge and can be done at vaccination centers in hospitals across the country, after making an appointment with your family doctor. Diphtheria and tetanus vaccinations can be given during pregnancy.
For reference: UNICEF makes vaccinations more accessible to every child by procuring vaccines. In 2024, UNICEF, with the support of the Government of Japan, delivered 60,000 doses of PENTA, a combination vaccine that protects children in the first year of life against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), to Ukraine.