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Press release
17 April 2020
Maintaining routine immunization services vital during the COVID-19 pandemic – WHO and UNICEF
https://www.unicef.org/eca/node/5936
GENEVA/COPENHAGEN, 20 April 2020 - The COVID-19 pandemic is a stark reminder that infectious diseases know no borders. All countries are vulnerable, regardless of income levels or the strength of their health care systems. Across the European Region, where tens of millions of people have been living in lockdown for weeks, and over 100,000 people have died, the speed and devastation of the novel coronavirus has completely upended lives. The urgent need for a COVID-19 vaccine underscores the pivotal role immunizations play in protecting lives and economies. As scientists around the world work to develop a vaccine against the novel coronavirus and health care capacities are stretched in responding to COVID-19, national routine immunization programmes are more critical than ever before. Governments across the Region must use every opportunity possible to protect people from the many diseases for which vaccines are already available. When routine vaccinations are missed, the risk of disease outbreaks increases. In 2018, approximately 527 000 children missed their first-dose of measles-containing vaccine in the WHO European Region. One year later in 2019, the measles virus exposed immunity gaps in Europe, infecting over 100 000 people, across all age-groups. Protecting children, adolescents and adults from vaccine-preventable diseases through vaccination is a must for the sustainability of health care systems. “We know that vulnerability to infectious diseases anywhere is a threat to public health everywhere,” said Ms. Afshan Khan, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. “It is critical that routine immunization programmes continue during this crisis, while adequately protecting health workers and individuals receiving vaccinations. Reaching the most vulnerable children who have missed routine immunizations in the past should be prioritized.” If, during these unprecedented times, local COVID-19 response measures cause temporary interruptions of routine immunization services, countries should plan to resume immunization services as quickly as possible after the situation stabilizes. Countries should be prepared to vaccinate those at higher risk and ensure everyone, including the most marginalized, will have equal access to a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. “ We can prevent further impact of COVID-19 on our healthcare systems by assuring that individuals of all ages remain vaccinated according to national schedules. I urge countries to maintain immunization service delivery and drive demand for vaccination, through the life-course even at this difficult time. Prioritizing immunization is one of my four flagship areas and central to WHO’s vision for health in the new European Programme of Work” said Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. WHO and UNICEF will continue to support governments’ efforts to strengthen their immunization programmes, including through strategic planning for equitable provision of immunization, strengthening vaccine-preventable disease surveillance and community engagement and education. As we step into a new future, vaccines will continue to serve as a foundation for health and wellbeing for all. It is through solidarity, joint action and tireless commitment to leaving no one behind that we can create a healthier future together.   #Vaccineswork Georgia immunization UNICEF/UN0326765/Georgia
Press release
24 October 2016
Increasing immunization coverage is priority for Ukrainian Government – Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine
https://www.unicef.org/eca/press-releases/increasing-immunization-coverage-priority-ukraine
KYIV, 24 October 2016 – Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Pavlo Rozenko, representatives of the Ukrainian Government and the Presidential Administration have expressed their commitment to restore the routine immunization programme in Ukraine. Speaking at a high-level roundtable on immunization, organized by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and UNICEF on the occasion of World Polio Day, Vice Prime Minister Rozenko said: “Evidence-based medicine confirms the effectiveness of vaccines to prevent diseases such as polio, tetanus or whooping cough. Increasing the rates of immunization coverage is an important task and a priority of the government and a matter of national security.” Ukraine currently has the lowest routine immunization rates in the world. According to the Ministry of Health data, only 30 percent of children in Ukraine were fully immunized against measles, only 10 percent against hepatitis B, and only 3 percent against diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus, as of August 2016. Moreover, only 44 percent of children under 18 months of age were fully immunized against polio. Shortage of vaccine supplies has been one of the main reasons behind the critically low immunization rates in the past years. To address this, at the request of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, UNICEF has procured a number of high quality certified vaccines to protect children against dangerous vaccine-preventable diseases, namely  tuberculosis (BCG), measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP), tetanus and diphtheria vaccine for adults (Td), paediatric diphtheria and tetanus (DT), rabies, and bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV). The vaccines are now available in health facilities across the country. “This time last year, Ukraine was dealing with a polio outbreak. The comprehensive outbreak response was successfully implemented with the help of international partners, but this success is still fragile”, said Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. “With such low routine immunization coverage, Ukraine is still at risk of outbreaks of long-forgotten diseases. Today, with millions of doses of vaccines available across the country, there is no reason to delay vaccination. Being vaccinated is fundamental to guarantee child’s right to health and now more than ever, it is important for Ukraine to put in place a strong and effective immunization programme,” she added. Speaking at the event, Professor David Salisbury, Chairman of the European Regional Certification Commission for Poliomyelitis Eradication said: “The polio cases in 2015 in Ukraine happened as a direct consequence of failings in the provision of vaccines for children. Efforts have been made to redress these problems but there is still more that needs to be done to give the children of Ukraine protection from vaccine preventable diseases. I am greatly encouraged by the commitments that have been made today and I look forward to being able to remove Ukraine from our list of polio high-risk countries.” Representatives of the Governments of Canada and the United States of America, who provided funding for the polio outbreak response last year, reaffirmed their support for restoring the routine immunization programme in Ukraine. “Canada worked hard last year with Ukraine’s Health Ministry to get nationwide polio vaccination restarted. We are grateful to the thousands of doctors who helped vaccinate millions of children. This year, we are happy to see that the UN has made more vaccines available. But still, far too many children are not routinely fully vaccinated. I urge Ukrainian parents to take advantage of these free vaccines and protect their children from completely unnecessary illnesses,” said H.E. Roman Waschuk, Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine, speaking at the Roundtable today. "Ukraine must continue to build on the great progress that has been made globally to eradicate polio," explained USAID Ukraine Director Susan Fritz. "These positive developments will only have the necessary impact if there is strong and visible political support from leadership at all levels of the Ukrainian Government." “Myths about vaccination that have been spread in recent years are not rooted in evidence-based medicine. As a result, Ukraine has been dealing with cases of diseases that have been long-forgotten in the rest of the world. It is important that the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, the Government and our international partners recognize the problem and are willing to work together with the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to resolve it. Increasing vaccination coverage rates in the country is our priority. This is not only a question of health and life of the citizens of Ukraine. This is a national security issue,” said Dr Ulana Suprun, Acting Minister of Health of Ukraine. “Necessary vaccines are available in all regions of the country. I appeal to all citizens who care about their life and health: get vaccinated and vaccinate your children,” added Dr Suprun. Nurse Ivana Knysh administers Maksym, 5, with a Hepatitis B vaccine as he holds his mother's hand, at Novoselytsi Family Medical Facility, Chernivtsi Oblast, Ukraine. UNICEF/UN060132/Oleksii Nurse Ivana Knysh administers Maksym, 5, with a Hepatitis B vaccine as he holds his mother's hand, at Novoselytsi Family Medical Facility, Chernivtsi Oblast, Ukraine.
Press release
20 April 2023
Confidence in childhood vaccines declines across Europe and Central Asia – new UNICEF report
https://www.unicef.org/eca/press-releases/confidence-childhood-vaccines-declines-across-europe-and-central-asia-new-unicef
NEW YORK, 20 April 2023 – The public perception of the importance of childhood vaccines has declined across Europe and Central Asia since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new analysis of data from 55 countries worldwide – 29 of which are in Europe and Central Asia. The analysis is featured in a new report published today by UNICEF. The State of the World’s Children 2023: For Every Child, Vaccination is the most comprehensive assessment of routine immunization ever produced by UNICEF. It notes that in the 29 countries in Europe and Central Asia featured in the analysis, the perception of the importance of vaccines for children has declined by more than 10 percentage points. In the majority of countries analysed, people under 35-years-old and women were most likely to have reported less confidence in childhood vaccines. “The decline in confidence in childhood vaccines is deeply concerning. Immunization is one of humanity’s most remarkable success stories. Too many lives are at stake to let it fall prey to a wave of fear and misinformation fuelled by the pandemic.” “The decline in confidence in childhood vaccines is deeply concerning. Immunization is one of humanity’s most remarkable success stories. Too many lives are at stake to let it fall prey to a wave of fear and misinformation fuelled by the pandemic,” said Philippe Cori, UNICEF Deputy Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia. The decline in confidence comes amid the largest sustained backslide in childhood immunisation in 30 years . The pandemic interrupted childhood vaccination almost everywhere, largely due to intense demands on health systems, the diversion of immunization resources to COVID-19 vaccination, health worker shortages and stay-at-home measures. As a result, 67 million children globally missed out on routine vaccinations between 2019 and 2021, with vaccination coverage levels decreasing in 112 countries. Nearly one million of children who missed one or several routine vaccinations live in Europe and Central Asia. Among whom, 327,400 are “zero-dose” – children who have not received any vaccinations, and “under-vaccinated” children – those who have not received the third required dose of the diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT3) vaccine – critical markers in immunization coverage. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, North Macedonia and Ukraine have among the highest rates of zero-dose children in the region. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Montenegro, Romania and Ukraine have among the highest rates of under-vaccinated children. The pandemic also exacerbated existing inequities. Vast gaps in immunization coverage exist among Roma children, one of Europe’s largest and most marginalised minority groups. UNICEF is calling on governments to double-down on their commitment to increase financing for immunization and to work with stakeholders to unlock available resources, including leftover COVID-19 funds, to urgently implement and accelerate catch-up vaccination efforts to protect children and prevent disease outbreaks. The report features a set of recommendations for governments including: Urgently identify and reach all children, especially those who missed vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic Strengthen confidence in and demand for vaccines, including by working closely with communities to address their vaccination needs and concerns Prioritise funding to immunization services and primary health care Build resilient health systems through investment in female health workers, innovation and local manufacturing “Immunization is central in protecting children’s health and well-being. To minimize outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease, and unnecessary suffering, we urge governments and donors to redirect leftover COVID-19 funds to strengthen immunization services and ensure that routine immunization reach all children, wherever they are,” said Cori. A small child gets vaccinated. UNICEF/U.S. CDC/UN0749657/Christina Pashkina
Press release
28 February 2019
Alarming global surge of measles cases a growing threat to children
https://www.unicef.org/eca/press-releases/alarming-global-surge-measles-cases-growing-threat-children
NEW YORK, 1 March 2019 – UNICEF warned today that global cases of measles are surging to alarmingly high levels, led by ten countries accounting for more than 74 per cent of the total increase, and several others that had previously been declared measles free. Countries with ten highest increases in cases between 2017 & 2018 1 1. Ukraine                                                                                         30,338 2. Philippines                                                                                    13,192 3. Brazil                                                                                            10,262 4. Yemen                                                                                            6,641 5. Venezuela                                                                                      4,916 6. Serbia                                                                                             4,355 7. Madagascar                                                                                   4,307 8. Sudan                                                                                             3,496 9. Thailand                                                                                         2,758 10. France                                                                                          2,269   Globally, 98 countries reported more cases of measles in 2018 compared to 2017, eroding progress against this highly preventable, but potentially deadly disease. Ukraine, the Philippines and Brazil saw the largest increases in measles cases from 2017 to 2018. In Ukraine alone, there were 35,120 cases of measles in 2018. According to the government, another 24,042 people were infected just in the first two months of 2019. In the Philippines so far this year, there have been 12,736 measles cases and 203 deaths 2 , compared to 15,599 cases in the whole of 2018. "This is a wake up call. We have a safe, effective and inexpensive vaccine against a highly contagious disease – a vaccine that has saved almost a million lives every year over the last two decades,” said Henrietta H. Fore, UNICEF’s Executive Director. “These cases haven’t happened overnight. Just as the serious outbreaks we are seeing today took hold in 2018, lack of action today will have disastrous consequences for children tomorrow." Measles is highly contagious, more so than Ebola, tuberculosis or influenza. The virus can be contracted by someone up to two hours after an infected person has left a room. It spreads through air and infects the respiratory tract, potentially killing malnourished children or babies too young to be vaccinated. Once infected, there is no specific treatment for measles, so vaccination is a life-saving tool for children. In response to these outbreaks, UNICEF and its partners are supporting governments to urgently reach millions of children in countries around the globe. For example: In Ukraine, UNICEF has provided ongoing support to accelerate routine immunization across the country and address vaccine hesitancy, including additional efforts to stop the most recent outbreak that has claimed 30 lives since 2017. In February, the Ministry of Health, with UNICEF’s support, launched an immunization drive at schools and clinics in the worst-hit Lviv region in western Ukraine, where negative attitudes toward immunization, and previous shortages in vaccine supply, have resulted in low vaccination rates. In the Philippines, the government, with support from UNICEF and partners, will conduct a campaign to vaccinate 9 million children against measles across 17 regions. Using social media, campaigners plan to encourage apprehensive parents, and health workers. In Brazil, from August to September 2018, the government carried out a campaign against polio and measles, targeting more than 11 million children under five. UNICEF encouraged people to get vaccinated, and trained health monitors working in migrant shelters for Venezuelans. UNICEF has included the measles vaccine as part of the Municipal Seal programme that covers 1,924 municipalities. In Yemen, where years of conflict led to an outbreak, local authorities with support from UNICEF, WHO and GAVI vaccinated more than 11.5 million children in February.  In Madagascar, from 3 September to 21 February, 76,871 people were infected by measles and 928 died, a majority of which were children. In January, the government, with support of partners including UNICEF, launched an immunization campaign to target all 114 districts. Over 2 million children were immunized in 25 districts. In February, 1.4 million children were vaccinated, with another 3.9 million more to follow in March.  Notable reported measles cases in 2018 in countries with no reported cases in 2017 Brazil                                                                                                                    10,262 Moldova                                                                                                                    312 Montenegro                                                                                                               203 Colombia                                                                                                                   188 Timor-Leste                                                                                                                 59 Peru                                                                                                                            38 Chile                                                                                                                           23 Uzbekistan                                                                                                                 17   Poor health infrastructure, civil strife, low community awareness, complacency and vaccine hesitancy in some cases have led to these outbreaks in both developed and developing countries. For example, in the United States, the number of measles cases increased six-fold between 2017 and 2018, reaching 791 cases 3 . More recently, the U.S. has seen outbreaks in New York and Washington state. “Almost all of these cases are preventable, and yet children are getting infected even in places where there is simply no excuse,” said Fore. “Measles may be the disease, but, all too often, the real infection is misinformation, mistrust and complacency. We must do more to accurately inform every parent, to help us safely vaccinate every child.” To fight measles, UNICEF is issuing an urgent appeal to governments, health care providers, and parents to do more to contain the disease by: Understanding that vaccines are safe and effective and can save a child’s life Vaccinating all children between the ages of six months to five years during outbreaks Training and equipping health workers so they can provide quality services Strengthening immunization programmes to deliver all life-saving vaccines   Notes to editors Download photos and broll here. About the Measles and Rubella Initiative UNICEF is part of the Measles and Rubella Initiative , a private-public partnership of five global partners including WHO, CDC, United Nations Foundation and American Red Cross that has been spearheading a global push towards measles and rubella elimination.   1 The analysis is based on WHO’s global measles and rubella data of 194 countries for the year 2017 and 2018,released as of 9 January 2019. To know more, click here . The analysis is based on the total confirmed cases of measles. A more recent dataset was released as of 11 February 2019 after the publication of the release. These data are considered provisional, until they are finalized around mid-year, to allow time for reporting lag to be addressed.  2 Until 23 February 2019. For the source, click here .  3 Correction: “the number of measles cases increased over three-fold between 2017 and 2018, reaching 372 cases.” Correction updates a data error in the original source. Maryana Dzuba, 9, receives her first dose of MMR vaccine on 21 February 2019 in the medical centre of the Lapaivka village school, Lviv region, Ukraine, as part of a three-week long catch-up vaccination campaign to increase MMR coverage among school aged children in the region. UNICEF/UN0284080/ Dyachyshyn Maryana Dzuba, 9, receives her first dose of MMR vaccine on 21 February 2019 in the medical centre of the Lapaivka village school, Lviv region, Ukraine, as part of a three-week long catch-up vaccination campaign to increase MMR coverage among school aged children in the region.
Press release
15 November 2019
30 years of child rights: Historic gains and undeniable achievements, but little progress for the world’s poorest children - UNICEF
https://www.unicef.org/eca/press-releases/30-years-child-rights-historic-gains-and-undeniable-achievements-little-progress
NEW YORK, 18 November 2019 – There have been historic gains overall for the world’s children since the Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted 30 years ago. However, many of the poorest children are yet to feel the impact, according to The Convention on the Rights of the Child at a Crossroads , a new report released today.  Part of commemorations marking the 30 th anniversary of the CRC, the report looks at the undeniable achievements of the past three decades, proof that where there is political will and determination, children’s lives improve.   “There have been impressive gains for children over the past three decades, as more and more are living longer, better and healthier lives. However, the odds continue to be stacked against the poorest and most vulnerable,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “In addition to the persistent challenges of health, nutrition and education, children today have to contend with new threats like climate change, online abuse and cyberbullying. Only with innovation, new technologies, political will and increased resources will we help translate the vision of the Convention on the Rights of the Child into a reality for all children everywhere.” Citing progress in child rights over the past three decades, the report notes that:  The global under-five mortality rate has fallen by about 60 per cent. The proportion of primary-school-aged children not in school decreased from 18 per cent to 8 per cent. The guiding principles of the CRC – non-discrimination; the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and the right to protection – have influenced numerous constitutions, laws, policies and practices globally. However, the report notes, this progress has not been even.  In low and middle-income countries children from the poorest households are twice as likely to die from preventable causes before their fifth birthday than children from the richest households.   According to recent available data, only half of children from the poorest households in sub-Saharan Africa are vaccinated against measles, compared to 85 per cent of children from the richest households.   Despite a decline in child marriage rates globally, the poorest girls in some countries are more at risk today than they were in 1989. The report also addresses age-old and new threats affecting children around the world:  Poverty, discrimination and marginalization continue to leave millions of the most disadvantaged children at risk: Armed conflicts, rising xenophobia and the global migration and refugee crisis all have a devastating impact on global progress. Children are physically, physiologically and epidemiologically most at risk of the impacts of the climate crisis: Rapid changes in climate are spreading disease, increasing the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, and creating food and water insecurity. Unless urgent action is taken, the worst for many children is yet to come. Although more children are immunized than ever before, a slowdown in immunisation coverage rates over the past decade is threatening to reverse hard-won gain in children’s health: Measles vaccination coverage has stagnated since 2010, contributing to a resurgence of the deadly disease in many countries. Almost 350,000 cases of measles were recorded in 2018, more than double the total in 2017. The number of out-of-school children has stagnated and learning outcomes for those in school remain poor: Globally, the number children who are not in primary level has remained static since 2007. Many of those who are in school are not learning the basics, let alone the skills they need to thrive in today’s economy. To accelerate progress in advancing child rights, and to address stagnation and backsliding in some of these rights, the report calls for more data and evidence; scaling up proven solutions and interventions; expanding resources; involving young people in co-creating solutions; and applying the principles of equity and gender equality in programming. But it also recognizes that while all these elements are necessary to bring about change, our rapidly changing world also requires new modalities to confront emerging opportunities and challenges, and to truly embed the rights of children as a global cause again.  To find these pathways, over the next 12 months UNICEF plans to undertake a global dialogue on what it will take to make the promise of the convention a reality for every child. The discourse will be inclusive, involving children and young people, parents and caregivers, education and social workers, communities and governments, civil society, academia, the private sector and the media. And it will influence the way the organization does business in the future.  “The Convention stands at a crossroads between its illustrious past and its future potential. It is up to us to recommit, take decisive steps and hold ourselves accountable,” said Fore. “We should take our lead from young people who are speaking up and speaking out for their rights as never before, we must act now – boldly and creatively.” Children from the local underprivileged Roma community playing in the streets of their community in the town of Shumen, Northern Bulgaria. UNICEF supports families at risk through the work of mobile units composed by social workers. UNICEF/ Bulgaria / Giacomo Pirozzi
Пресс-релиз
20 April 2020
ВОЗ и ЮНИСЕФ: Продолжение оказания услуг по плановой иммунизации имеет жизненно важное значение во время пандемии COVID-19
https://www.unicef.org/eca/ru/%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%81-%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%8B/%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B7-%D0%B8-%D1%8E%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%84-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B6%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D1%83%D1%81%D0%BB%D1%83%D0%B3-%D0%BF%D0%BE-%D0%BF%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%BC%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%B8-%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%B5%D1%82-%D0%B6%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE-%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B5
ЖЕНЕВА/КОПЕНГАГЕН, 20 апреля 2020 г. Пандемия COVID-19 является суровым напоминанием о том, что инфекционные болезни не знают границ. Уязвимыми оказываются все страны, независимо от уровня доходов или прочности их систем здравоохранения. Скорость и разрушения, которые демонстрирует новый коронавирус, полностью изменили жизнь во всем Европейском регионе, где десятки миллионов людей живут в условиях самоизоляции на протяжении недель, и где погибли более 100 000 человек. Острая необходимость в вакцине против COVID-19 подчеркивает ту ведущую роль, которую играет иммунизация в защите жизней людей и экономики. По мере того как ученые всего мира работают над созданием вакцины против нового коронавируса и растет потенциал здравоохранения в плане реагирования на COVID-19, национальные программы плановой иммунизации приобретают еще бóльшее значение, чем когда-либо ранее. Правительства всего Европейского региона должны использовать любую имеющуюся возможность для защиты людей от тех многочисленных болезней, против которых уже существуют вакцины. В случае пропуска плановой вакцинации возрастает риск вспышек болезней. В 2018 г. около 527 000 детей пропустили первую дозу коресодержащей вакцины в Европейском регионе ВОЗ. Годом позже, в 2019 г. вирус кори обнажил пробелы в иммунизации в Европе, став причиной заражения более 100 000 человек во всех возрастных группах. Защита детей, подростков и взрослых путем вакцинации от болезней, предупреждаемых с помощью вакцин, является обязательным условием устойчивости систем здравоохранения. «Мы знаем, что уязвимость к инфекционным болезням где-либо является угрозой для общественного здравоохранения во всем мире, – отметила г-жа Афшан Хан, Региональный директор, Отделение ЮНИСЕФ по странам Европы и Центральной Азии. – Крайне важно, чтобы во время этого кризиса продолжалась работа программ плановой иммунизации при одновременном обеспечении надлежащей защиты как медицинских работников, так и вакцинируемых. Приоритет следует отдавать охвату наиболее уязвимых детей, которые пропустили в прошлом плановую иммунизацию». Если в это беспрецедентное время ответные меры в связи с COVID-19 на местном уровне приводят к временным перебоям в оказании услуг по плановой иммунизации, странам следует запланировать возобновление оказания услуг по иммунизации в кратчайшие сроки после стабилизации ситуации. Страны должны быть готовы к проведению вакцинации лиц с повышенным риском и к обеспечению того, чтобы у всех людей, включая наиболее маргинализированных, был равный доступ к вакцине против COVID-19, после того  как она станет доступной. «Мы можем избежать дальнейшего воздействия COVID-19 на наши системы здравоохранения, обеспечив продолжение вакцинации людей всех возрастов в соответствии с национальными графиками. Я призываю страны даже в это трудное время продолжать оказание услуг по иммунизации и стимулировать спрос на вакцинацию на протяжении всей жизни человека. Обеспечение приоритетности иммунизации является одной из моих четырех основных областей моей работы и занимает центральное место в концепции ВОЗ в отношении здоровья в новой Европейской программе работы», – заявил д-р Ханс Генри П. Клюге, директор Европейского регионального бюро ВОЗ. ВОЗ и ЮНИСЕФ будут и впредь поддерживать усилия правительств по укреплению их программ иммунизации, в том числе посредством стратегического планирования для оказания услуг по иммунизации на справедливой основе, усиления эпиднадзора за болезнями, предупреждаемыми с помощью вакцин, а также обеспечения участия и просвещения местных сообществ. В новом будущем, в которое мы сейчас вступаем, вакцины будут по-прежнему служить основой для обеспечения здоровья и благополучия для всех. Именно благодаря солидарности, совместным действиям и неустанной приверженности принципу «не оставить никого без внимания» мы сможем вместе создать более здоровое будущее.   #ВакциныРаботают Georgia immunization UNICEF/UN0326765/Georgia

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