UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

Published purpose

This project aims to improve polio immunization coverage, particularly among children and vulnerable populations who are at high-risk of contracting the disease, to mitigate the risk and potential impact of a polio outbreak. Ukraine is at high risk for a polio outbreak because current rates of vaccination are low (less than 50% of children are fully immunized against polio) and the likelihood of exposure to sources of wild or vaccine-derived polio viruses is high. The project seeks to immunize the most vulnerable populations, including approximately 1.5 million children, with a focus on infants who have never been vaccinated, or who are living in conflict-affected areas or communities of internally displaced people. Project activities include: (1) providing 1.8 million doses of Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) and associated immunization supplies, as well as 3.1 million doses of Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV); (2) vaccinating an estimated 450,000 infants under the age of one year with two doses of IPV - to the extent possible, followed in the next year with up to two more booster doses of OPV; and (3) vaccinating an older group of children who are only partially immunized against polio with additional doses of OPV.