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As It Happens

Ukraine could destroy millions of polio vaccine doses paid for by Canada

Two cases of polio turned up in Ukraine last month. The World Health Organization and UNICEF have shipped in millions of vaccines, paid for by Ottawa. But Ukrainian health officials have yet to approve their use, amid a scare over safety.
CBC Radio ·
In this 2013 file photo, a nurse in Kiev, Ukraine, administers a vaccine against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus vaccine to 2-year-old Roman Pschenichny while his mother Inna holds him. (Sergei Chuzavkov/The Associated Press)
As It Happens7:01Fears in Ukraine over polio vaccine may stop mass immunization amid outbreak

Canada has spent millions of dollars on vaccines to prevent a polio outbreak in Ukraine. Thanks to that Canadian funding, the World Health Organization and UNICEF have shipped 3.7 million polio vaccines there.

And they're needed: there have been two cases of polio diagnosed in children in Ukraine -- the first cases in Europe in five years.

But rather than use the vaccines to protect against a major outbreak, a Ukrainian health care lobby group says they're unsafe and wants every one of them destroyed.

Dr. Dorit Nitzan, WHO representative in Ukraine, speaks during a press conference on Jan. 16, 2015. (Martial Trezzini/The Associated Press/Keystone)

Dr. Dorit Nitzan, the World Health Organization representative in Ukraine, tells As It Happens host Carol Off the group is misguided. And, if the Ukrainian government heeds its call, it will be making a grave mistake.

"This is a real threat. It is an outbreak. The more time children are not immunized, the more children will get sick," Nitzan says.

She explains that the lobby group has misunderstood the manufacturer's instructions on how to handle the vaccine. The company tells doctors and nurses administering it to patients not to thaw and refreeze it after opening the container.

The vaccines, purchased with money from the Canadian government, thawed during a flight from France to Ukraine, which is normal procedure for transport.

This is a real threat. It is an outbreak. The more time children are not immunized, the more children will get sick.- Dr. Dorit Nitzan, WHO representative in Ukraine

Nitzan warns that polio can be deadly. It can also leave those infected paralyzed. Even before this latest outbreak, the immunization rate in Ukraine was very low, leaving people there vulnerable.

Nitzan says it's terrible that only 14 per cent of children in Ukraine were vaccinated in 2015.

"Hopefully the [Ukrainian] Prime Minister will support and understand what is going on and will accept the decision of the professionals," she says.

"Everybody here in Ukraine, including the Canadian ambassador, are supporting the ministry in making the right decision."

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