Ukraine starts measles vaccination of adults in at-risk groups

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine has approved the procedure for free vaccination of certain groups of adults at increased risk for getting measles.

The decision to offer adult vaccination for measles was taken in view of an increase in the number of measles cases among adults since the beginning of 2018. In particular, the prevalence rates has been recorded amongst the following high-risk groups: people living in a common space (military, ATO fighters, students), educators and doctors.

Under the above-mentioned order, mandatory measles vaccination of adults is provided in 2018 for disease-control purposes, including:

• for groups at risk of acquiring measeles through occupational exposure: medical workers, employees of educational institutions and non-medical staff of health care institutions, representatives of law enforcement agencies (Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Security Service of Ukraine, National Police of Ukraine, National Guard of Ukraine, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine).
• for students of educational institutions, with no age limit.

Additional vaccines were procured for budget funds in previous years. As of June 27, 2018, 852 000 doses of vaccines are available in stocks in Ukraine.