The Medical Procurement of Ukraine (MPU), commissioned by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, has centrally procured vaccines for children's immunization.
This is a оral polio vaccine (OPV) manufactured by the Belgian company Glaxosmithkline Biologicals S.A., which young patients will receive free of charge in the form of oral drops. The vaccine will be delivered next year under the terms of the contract.
Polio is a dangerous infectious disease that attacks the nervous system and can lead to incurable paralysis if not vaccinated. That's why polio vaccination is mandatory according to the vaccination calendar. For this purpose, the MPU purchased 1.1 million doses of vaccines with a total cost of more than 8 million UAH.
The purchased vaccine is based on a weakened polio virus. By the first year of life, the child should receive two doses of the vaccine by injection at 2 and 4 months. Next time – at 6 and 18 months, as well as at 6 and 14 years when the child receives drops.
So before reaching the age of 14, each child must receive six doses to have developed lifelong immunity to polio and, accordingly, protection against the serious consequences of this disease.
«Immunoprophylaxis of the population remains one of the key priorities in the field of health and national security. Despite the full-scale war, the Ministry of Health in cooperation with international partners managed to ensure the uninterrupted availability of vaccines for routine vaccination at the level of each region, so that newborns can receive all required vaccinations at maternity hospitals, children and adults - get them at the family doctor or vaccination point. This work continues, and the purchase of the first batches of vaccines for the needs of the year 2024 allows us to ensure routine vaccinations for Ukrainians next year regardless of where they live or temporarily reside», said Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health - Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine.
«This highly important purchase was possible thanks to effective communication with the market and coordination of the Ministry of Health and the MPU teams. The fact that the MPU was able to purchase vaccines indicates the final formation of the national procurement agency. The polio vaccine will make it possible to protect children from the risks of this serious disease and avoid interrupting of mandatory vaccinations, and this is a matter of national security», added Mariia Morozova, Head of the Category Management Department of the MPU.
For reference. In 2023 The MPU centrally procured vaccines for immunization which is mandatory and free for childrens. These are Antitoxin for the prevention of diphtheria and tetanus with reduced antigen content (ADP-M) and Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.