The WHO Country Office in Ukraine, with European Union (EU) support, has donated 59 buses to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to help strengthen far-flung vaccination efforts across the country during the war.
The buses will be staffed by mobile and outreach teams and will travel across all regions controlled by the Government of Ukraine to administer vaccines against infectious diseases, including COVID-19, measles and diphtheria, with a particular focus on internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable groups, including the elderly and those with chronic health conditions and anyone residing in remote and hard-to-reach areas.
“Vaccination coverage has been significantly impacted over the past year of war, and these buses will help ensure that Ukraine continues on its journey to ensure IDPs and the most vulnerable populations can more easily access vaccines against diseases that could prove deadly,” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
“Out of 35 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines delivered in-country since the beginning of the pandemic, only 4 million doses (11%) have been implemented after 24 February 2022,” he added. “We also observe routine immunization efforts facing challenges as a result, and we are preparing to address the risks of outbreaks of measles and diphtheria.”
From April to December 2022, with WHO support in partnership with the EU and USAID, up to 400 000 people across 1500 locations in 8 regions have been reached with outreach immunization services, which include vaccinations and information on how to catch up on required immunization to prevent the outbreaks of infectious diseases.
COVID-19 and routine vaccines are provided by public health care facilities throughout Ukraine and are administered according to global recommendations and in line with the national vaccination calendar. Vaccines are available and administered free of charge in the country.
The donated buses will be distributed by the Ministry of Health among all regional centres for disease control and prevention (CDCs).
WHO in Ukraine supports the national immunization program, in partnership with the EU. This includes strengthening program capacities at the national and regional levels, providing technical and operational support to eliminate inequities in vaccine coverage, extending population access to services, as well as informational support for vaccination campaigns to prevent further large-scale outbreaks of infectious diseases. WHO shares recommendations and technical guidance, conducts trainings for immunization program specialists and health care workers, provides consumables, and also assists in the delivery of vaccines to Ukraine as part of the COVAX international initiative.
Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine, said, “WHO in Ukraine will continue to work tirelessly to support immunization efforts and help the country to increase vaccination coverage this year. Today’s crucial donation of buses with the EU marks a major step in this direction, and we thank our partners, and the Ministry of Health, for continuing to provide their populations with effective protection against infectious diseases.”
“This donation will also help to address the most recent challenges faced by the health system due to ongoing missile attacks to energy infrastructure, which significantly affect vaccine cold chain and vaccine distribution to locations without a stable electricity supply,” Dr Habicht added. “Intensifying mobile and outreach services will help to better serve populations residing in these areas and improve their protection from infectious diseases.”
Dr Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health in Ukraine, said, “During the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, the vaccination campaign did not stop for a single day. Thanks to our partners, the donated buses will greatly strengthen the regional centres for disease control and prevention so that we can strengthen routine immunization and reach as many people as possible with vaccinations against COVID-19. A special focus will be on IDPs, people with limited mobility, and people living in hard-to-reach areas.”
Martin Schroeder, Head of Section on Human and Local Development at the European Union Delegation to Ukraine said, “Strengthening public health systems is one of the top priorities in EU-Ukraine’s dialogue in the health area. The donation of these buses today marks an important step to help strengthen the vaccination drive in Ukraine and ensure the most vulnerable are being protected against infectious diseases. We plan to continue our partnership with WHO in Ukraine and the Ministry of Health to ensure that Ukraine's public health system is supported in this challenging period of full-fledged Russian war and beyond.”