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As It Happens

Ukraine to begin long-delayed mass polio vaccination program

Ukraine is set to begin its mass polio vaccination program, after a delay. But a patients' rights group worries the delay may have rendered the vaccines ineffective - despite assurances from the WHO that the vaccination doses are safe.
CBC Radio ·
Vaccination levels in Ukraine have dropped to less than 50 per cent of children and 14 per cent of infants. More than three million children are believed to be at risk of contracting polio. (Sergei Chuzavkov / The Associated Press)
As It Happens5:54Ukraine set to begin long-delayed polio vaccinations

Ukraine's Health Minister signed a decree today kick-starting a mass polio vaccination program in the country after two cases of the paralyzing disease were discovered in the country last month.

Ukraine currently has 3.7 million doses of the polio vaccine, which were paid for by the Canadian government. But Kyiv has been dragging its feet for weeks on starting a mass vaccination after concerns were raised about the safety of the vaccines.

"The vaccines need to undergo more testing. We need more communication about how they can be used," Vasyl Kvartiuk, a member of the All-Ukrainian Council on Patients' Rights and Safety, tells As It Happens host Carol Off.

The group is concerned the vaccines, which have been in storage in Ukraine since being shipped from France in May, are nearing their six-month expiration. They are supposed to be kept frozen, but Kvartiuk says the safety council believes the vaccines were thawed during transport and storage.

The World Health Organization, UNICEF and the Ukrainian Health Ministry all insist the vaccines were transported and stored properly, and the safety group's fears are unfounded. The WHO says mass vaccinations must begin immediately for the program to protect Ukrainian children. The WHO's representative in Ukraine told As It Happens earlier this week that it's essential mass vaccinations begin immediately to protect Ukrainian children.

Two children aged 10-months and four-years-old were paralyzed last month after contracting the debilitating disease in the first polio cases in Europe since 2010. Hundreds more are believed to be carrying the virus.

Ukraine was previously declared polio-free, but vaccination levels have dropped to less than 50 per cent of children and 14 per cent of infants in the country. More than three million children are believed to be at risk.

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