At the request of the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, UNICEF has shipped 3,000 doses of hepatitis A vaccine to Ukraine.
The delivery is part of UNICEF’s support to children and families in the Kherson and Nikolaev regions to protect them from influenza, including influenza A, following the attack on the Kakhovka Dam in early June Risk of waterborne diseases including hepatitis.
“We are committed to supporting the Ukrainian Ministry of Health in taking measures to prevent possible disease outbreaks and protect the health of affected children and families in the Kherson and Nikolaev regions,” he said. Murat Sahin, UNICEF Representative in Ukraine. “This vaccine helps prevent hepatitis A, addressing one of the major waterborne health threats caused by flooding after the Kakhovka Dam attack.”
Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection that can cause mild to severe illness. Symptoms include fever, malaise, loss of appetite, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal discomfort, dark urine, and jaundice. Adults are more likely than children to develop signs and symptoms of the disease. Disease severity and mortality outcomes were higher in the older group.
The disease is closely linked to unsafe water or food and inadequate sanitation. Epidemics linked to contaminated food or water can break out and last for a long time, affecting communities for months.
Anyone who is not vaccinated can become infected with the hepatitis A virus.
“The hepatitis A vaccine is an important part of the protection against this viral disease. The pathogen enters the body through contaminated food or water. This vaccination is not mandatory in the immunization schedule, but it is highly recommended for children and adults. ” Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister, Chief National Health Doctor. “Ukraine has received this vaccine as part of the collaboration between the Ministry of Health and UNICEF, which will be distributed as needed, taking into account the existing risks in affected areas.”
UNICEF is a trusted partner of Ukraine’s Ministry of Health and has provided support through the procurement and delivery of the hepatitis A vaccine, with funding from the Government of Japan.
In 2022 and 2023, to support immunization in Ukraine, UNICEF procured more than 2.89 million doses of vaccines (polio vaccine, oral polio vaccine, hepatitis B, tetanus-diphtheria, diphtheria-tetanus, Measles-mumps-rubella, tuberculosis BCG, pentavalent vaccine), rabies) at the request of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of State Health Services of Ukraine.
Media Contact
Oleksandra Blinska
Communications Specialist
UNICEF Ukraine
Email: oburynska@unicef.org