CHILDHOOD IMMUNIZATION DURING EMERGENCIES
Your safety and the safety of your child is a priority. Vaccines are the best way to prevent dangerous diseases. Do not postpone vaccinating your child.
Dangerous viruses and bacteria circulate easier and faster in overcrowded and confined spaces.
In the current emergency situation, with the high influx of people arriving in reception centers and in communities that may have low vaccination coverage, it becomes extremely critical to prevent infection and outbreaks that may put children at risk of severe illness and even death. If possible, before traveling, vaccinate your child.
While abroad, you should follow the national immunization schedule of your host country. In most of the countries in the EU children must be vaccinated prior to enrolling in school or childcare.
You can check which vaccinations are mandatory by selecting the country you would like to know more about on the European CDC website.
In the current emergency, vaccination against measles and polio are particularly important and recommended to all children who have not been fully vaccinated or cannot prove they have been fully vaccinated.
It is also essential to give your child any vaccine they may have missed, particularly against Diphtheria and Tetanus, and continue vaccinating them with all the vaccine doses recommended for their age. When a child misses or delays vaccination, they remain at risk of serious infections.
It is Important to Remember!
Vaccination does not require preparation: you should not change your usual lifestyle, follow a diet, undergo additional medical examinations, or take medication. In addition, a blood test, urine test, "immunogram" are not required. Neither the orders of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine nor the international recommendations indicate any additional examinations.
Explore the Bebbo app from UNICEF, it is your pocket partner in parenthood. Bebbo offers a wide range of parenting tips and other useful resources for parents and caregivers of children aged 0-6 years old, including the Bebbo Vaccination Tracker. It’s available in multiple languages, including Ukrainian. It is free to use and you can download it on Google PlayStore / Apple AppStore.
For more information on vaccines and immunization overall, visit UNICEF’s website.
