The protection of people at high risk of infectious diseases, particularly COVID-19, was at the centre of a national conference in Ukraine, held on 3 May, following European Immunization Week. The event was organized by the WHO Country Office in Ukraine, together with the Ministry of Health, the Center for Public Health and regional centres for disease control and prevention.
“Only by joint efforts can we ensure that high-risk groups are protected from infectious diseases. In this regard, vaccination remains a key priority at the national level. We appreciate WHO’s support and ongoing technical assistance on vaccination planning, as well as COVAX support in supplying COVID-19 vaccines. We are also grateful for the buses and cars donated to help make vaccines more accessible to people in remote and rural areas,” said Dr Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health and Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine.
The conference gave an opportunity to discuss vaccination coverage against COVID-19 in 2021–2022, and identify gaps and shortcomings of vaccination campaigns and ways to eliminate them in the future. During the event, the latest global recommendations of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) were also presented, as well as the updated national plan for vaccination in Ukraine.
The continued implementation of the WHO-supported field vaccination campaign and educational activities for internally displaced persons was also considered, together with other opportunities that arise in their wake.
“WHO and its partners, made efforts to ensure that people in Ukraine have access to vaccination against COVID-19. In February 2021 and throughout the year, we achieved significant results until the full-scale Russian invasion. However, we did not stop, and I am truly grateful to everyone for their incredible resilience that kept us going. This year, we aim to achieve high vaccination coverage and maintain protection in high-risk groups, such as those above 60 years of age, immunocompromised people, pregnant women and health-care workers,” said Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine.
WHO together with the Ministry of Health have launched a new vaccination outreach and awareness-raising campaign related to healthy gardening, which aims to support elderly people residing in rural and hard to reach areas during the summer season. The campaign’s objectives are to ensure their protection from not only the risks of COVID-19, but also tetanus and other diseases, help them maintain their physical health and share advice on safe gardening during war time.
Activities are carried out in partnership with the European Union and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).