Ukraine to receive over 1.5 million doses of vaccines, 30 cars from UNICEF

This is reported by the Ministry of Health.

The first batch of 10 cars was handed over by UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell during her official visit.

According to the Minister of Health of Ukraine, Viktor Lyashko, vaccines in Ukraine are transported and stored in strict compliance with the requirements set by the manufacturer, despite the challenges for the health care system brought about by the full-scale invasion of Russia.

"The provided refrigerator cars are our next stage in the improvement of the "cold chain", which will allow not only to quickly deliver vaccines to the regions that need them, but also, taking into account the involvement of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine in this process, to use the means more effectively of immunoprophylaxis. This way we will be able to ensure uninterrupted access to vaccines in each individual health care institution. The first pilot of vaccine delivery to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be launched in the Lviv region in the near future," he said.

The provided cars are equipped with special refrigeration equipment with a volume for transporting vaccines of 4 cubic meters.  m under a temperature regime of +2...+8 °C, which will allow the delivery of the required supply of vaccines to any health care facility within the region.

Also, Ukraine is starting to receive vaccines purchased by UNICEF with funds from donors - the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Japanese government. These are polio, diphtheria, tetanus, measles-rubella-parotitis and rabies vaccines. In general, Ukraine will receive more than 1.5 million doses as humanitarian aid.

"During war, the risk of spreading infectious diseases increases significantly. That is why it is so important to vaccinate children and adults on time. UNICEF continues to support Ukraine at this critical time to reduce the terrible consequences of war for people," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.