The Situation with the Flu Vaccine in Ukraine
In Ukraine, seasonal flu vaccines are available only on the private market because they are not included in the national vaccination schedule. The vaccination against flu is not provided for by state programs, which means that the state does not purchase these vaccines using public funds. However, frontline medical workers have the opportunity to receive free vaccines.
Cooperation with the American project PIVI has been ongoing for seven years, indicating active efforts in the field of vaccination. Nevertheless, flu vaccines remain unavailable to the general public. An additional batch of vaccines is expected to hit the market soon, but details about their availability are still unknown.
Updates to the Preventive Vaccination Schedule
Starting January 1, 2026, Ukraine will update the preventive vaccination schedule, which will cover vaccination against 11 infectious diseases. The new schedule introduces a one-time free vaccination against the human papillomavirus for girls aged 12-13. The vaccination scheme for hepatitis B will also change to 2-4-6-18 months. It is important to note that BCG vaccination against tuberculosis will be performed 24 hours after birth starting from 2026.
Oleksandr Zayika points out that seasonal flu vaccines are not mandatory and are not included in the preventive vaccination schedule; they are not listed there. The list of infections for mandatory vaccination includes:
- tuberculosis
- hepatitis B
- measles
- mumps
- rubella
- poliomyelitis
- diphtheria
- tetanus
- whooping cough
- Hib infection
- human papillomavirus
Thus, the issue of the availability of flu vaccines remains relevant for Ukrainians, as the state does not take on the obligation to provide them.
The absence of seasonal flu vaccines in the national vaccination calendar highlights gaps in Ukraine's healthcare system, where flu vaccination remains at the level of private initiatives. Given that vaccination is an important means of prevention, especially in the context of the pandemic and the increase in flu cases, the issue of vaccine availability requires urgent consideration by the state. The update of the preventive vaccination schedule in 2026 may be a step in the right direction, but without addressing the issue of flu, health risks for the population will remain high.