Vaccination of children: Vaccines against diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus have arrived in Ukraine

According to hvylya.net: The DTP vaccine is part of a shipment of vaccines that Ukraine receives as part of the cooperation between the Ministry of Health and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi).

The partnership agreement between the Global Alliance and Ukraine was signed at the end of 2024. Under the agreement, part of the vaccines to support the national immunization program, according to the National Strategy for the Development of Immunoprophylaxis until 2030, is financed by the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi). Within the framework of this partnership, the procurement and delivery of vaccines to Ukraine is carried out by UNICEF. The distribution to the regions is coordinated by the Center for Public Health.

The DTP vaccine is intended for vaccination of children according to the National Vaccination Calendar and will be distributed to medical institutions across regions. It provides protection against three dangerous diseases. Diphtheria affects the heart, nervous system, and kidneys. Tetanus affects the nervous system, with a mortality rate of up to 70%. Whooping cough spreads easily among children and adults. It causes severe and uncontrolled coughing, which can lead to life-threatening apnea in infants.

'According to the National Preventive Vaccination Calendar, children up to 16 years old must receive vaccinations for ten diseases, including diphtheria and tetanus. Vaccination is free of charge and can be done in medical institutions of the country, after consulting with a family doctor or pediatrician. Vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough are administered to children at 2, 4, 6, and 18 months. Then, at 6 years old, a revaccination against diphtheria and tetanus without the whooping cough component is carried out using the DTP vaccine. At 16 years old, revaccination using the DTP-m vaccine with reduced amounts of diphtheria and tetanus antigens is conducted. Subsequently, revaccination against diphtheria and tetanus is carried out every ten years throughout life,' the Ministry of Health reported.

According to the ministry, to get vaccinated or find out when to get vaccinated, contact your family doctor or pediatrician. The doctor will check the vaccination data and if a vaccination has been missed or there is no data on the vaccinations carried out, they will provide a referral for vaccination and consult on the further plan of action.

'If the vaccination schedule is disrupted (for example, if one of the vaccinations is missed), this does not mean that the immunization course needs to start from the beginning. However, it is extremely important to catch up on missed vaccinations as soon as possible, regardless of how much time has passed. Therefore, contact your family doctor or pediatrician-the specialist will help you create an individual vaccination schedule,' the department noted.