UNICEF and WHO Ready to Support Immediate Polio Vaccination Campaign in Ukraine

NEW YORK (October 9, 2015) – Six weeks after the polio outbreak in Ukraine, UNICEF and WHO have stepped up calls for an immediate first round of nationwide polio vaccination.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Health confirmed two cases of polio on September 1. They were found in children living in Zakarpatska region, in southwest Ukraine. Both children, aged 10 months and 4 years, were not vaccinated against the disease.

If not stopped immediately, the virus can spread across Ukraine, putting 1.8 million children’s lives at risk. Risk of further polio outbreak remains unless a full-scale immunization campaign begins immediately to stop the transmission of the polio virus.

International guidelines state that just one polio case constitutes an outbreak, requiring an urgent response because of how quickly polio can spread if all children are not fully immunized. The outbreak and low level of vaccination rates in Ukraine risks children’s health and well-being as well as threatens Europe’s polio-free status.

The outbreak can be rapidly stopped through nationwide immunization of children with three rounds of oral polio vaccines, according to guidelines from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative*, which brings together WHO, UNICEF and other health partners. UNICEF has procured 3.7 million oral polio vaccines for Ukraine, with funding from the Government of Canada. WHO has confirmed that the vaccines are entirely safe and ready to use.

“The longer the polio virus is allowed to circulate in Ukraine, the higher the risk that this outbreak will spread and paralyze more children. We call on decision-makers and health care providers in Ukraine to take immediate action and vaccinate all children to urgently stop the transmission of the virus,” said Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe. 

This is the first polio outbreak to hit Ukraine in 19 years, revealing the vulnerability of children in the country. These two cases highlight once again the importance of full vaccination coverage for all children.

“Government authorities have the responsibility to protect children against this debilitating disease. I am pleased that today 70 percent of Ukrainian mothers are aware of the benefits of vaccination to protect their children. Vaccination rounds should start now,” said Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF Regional Director.

Ukraine’s political leaders must take the decision to support the outbreak response measures and launch the nationwide immunization campaign to protect children from avoidable paralysis and possible death.

UNICEF and WHO are on standby to support the campaign.

*The Global Polio Eradication Initiative is a public-private partnership led by national governments and spearheaded by the World Health Organization (WHO), Rotary International, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Its goal is to eradicate polio worldwide. See more at: http://www.polioeradication.org/AboutUs.aspx#sthash.kNsxDaeL.dpuf

About UNICEFThe United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when no children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

For more information, contact: Sophie Aziakou, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 917.720.1397, saziakou@unicefusa.org