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KYIV, 5 November 2024 — UNICEF has delivered 270,000 doses of the Tetanus-Diphtheria (Td) vaccine to ensure the uninterrupted availability of vaccines for routine immunization.
The vaccines were purchased with funds from the Government of France and provided at the request of Ukraine's Ministry of Health.
“The war can lead to an increased spread of infections,” said Mr. John Marks, UNICEF Ukraine Deputy Representative for Operations. UNICEF continues procuring and delivering vaccines to protect children and adults from vaccine-preventable diseases, added Marks.
Adults are advised to receive a Td booster (tetanus and diphtheria) every ten years throughout their lives. If you cannot remember your last vaccination date or do not have access to your vaccination records, consult your doctor to arrange for vaccination. Vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus is free of charge.
"Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the Ministry of Health, including through cooperation with international partners, has ensured an uninterrupted supply of vaccines for routine immunization across every region,” stated Ihor Kuzin, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister and Chief State Sanitary Doctor. “This allows newborns to receive all mandatory vaccinations in maternity hospitals, and children and adults to receive them at medical facilities or during outreach sessions conducted by vaccination teams in communities. Schools and other organized groups that children attend should be safe for everyone. Therefore, if recommended vaccinations have been missed, for instance, due to relocation to another city, parents should contact the nearest medical facility or family doctor to catch up. This is a matter of individual protection for every child against diseases that can be prevented by vaccination.”
The Td vaccine can be administered during pregnancy. It is safe and provides effective protection against the diseases, which is important given the low vaccination coverage for diphtheria in the country and the increased risk of injuries and tetanus infections during wartime.
Notes for Editors
UNICEF is committed to making vaccines more accessible in Ukraine by procuring essential vaccines.
Earlier in 2024, with support from the Government of Japan, UNICEF provided Ukraine with 60,000 doses of the PENTA vaccine, a combined vaccine protecting against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) for children in their first year of life.
Throughout 2024, at the request of Ukraine’s Ministry of Health, UNICEF also procured 350,000 doses of the DPT vaccine (diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus), 340,000 doses of the oral polio vaccine, 403,200 doses of Omicron-specific vaccines against COVID-19, 52,800 doses of Pfizer’s pediatric coronavirus vaccine, and 108,200 doses of the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella). These efforts were supported by the Government of Japan, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi).
UNICEF is collaborating with USAID, the World Bank, and the COVAX initiative to modernize Ukraine’s cold chain infrastructure. Currently, around 95 percent of healthcare facilities in Ukraine are equipped with modern cold chain systems and electronic monitors to track vaccine storage temperatures, ensuring reliable and effective vaccine storage across the country.
Media contacts
Toby Fricker
Chief Advocacy and Communications
UNICEF Ukraine
Email: tfricker@unicef.org