New vaccine supplies help protect families and children in Ukraine
Vaccines are helping mothers in Ukraine to protect their children from infectious diseases.
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Ruslana, a mother of two from Uzhhorod in Ukraine, is determined to ensure that her little ones are protected from as many diseases as possible.
Today, she has brought her six-year-old son Ivan to the local clinic for free vaccination against poliomyelitis, measles, rubella and mumps.
"We vaccinate constantly, it's not even up for discussion. We started vaccination at birth and will continue as planned."
Ruslana keeps track of the children’s vaccination schedule herself, but Yulia Dovhanych, her family doctor, also reminds the family when it is time to vaccinate.
"If vaccinations are missed, it's important to contact your family doctor or pediatrician and catch up as soon as possible,” says Yulia. “It's crucial not to delay this step.”
Yulia actively helps parents to understand the importance of vaccinating their children. She says that fears arise when there is insufficient information or information comes from unreliable sources.
"When we talk about vaccination, it's about protecting children and adults. And if we explain this to parents, many questions resolve themselves.”
Ruslana knows that the risks of diseases are much more serious than any potential reactions to vaccinations, which typically pass quickly and without consequences.
"Vaccination is a way of protecting a child,” says the mother. “It's better to prevent illness than to deal with its consequences later.”
Vaccination is an effective way to protect against infections. Vaccinated individuals are less likely to get sick and, if they do, the course of the illness is usually milder and without complications.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) makes vaccinations more accessible to every child by purchasing vaccines. In 2024, with the support of the Government of Japan and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), UNICEF provided Ukraine with 108,200 doses of combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Also this year, thanks to USAID, UNICEF supplied 340,000 doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV).
