Guidance on vaccination and prevention of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks for countries hosting refugees from Ukraine, April 2022 update

Abstract

This document provides guidance on interventions to prevent vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks in the context of mass population movement resulting from the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. The priority actions include: 1. planning and provision of resources to fully vaccinate refugee children with routine vaccinations in the national immunization schedule of the host country; 2. prioritizing vaccination against poliomyelitis, measles, rubella and COVID-19; a. inactivated poliovirus vaccine (‎IPV)‎ for children under 6 years; b. measles- and rubella-containing vaccine (‎MRCV)‎ to children up to 15 years who do not have at least two documented doses of these antigens; c. COVID-19 vaccine for priority groups in line with WHO recommendations and national guidelines; 3. identifying and closing any immunity gaps in the host population and proactively addressing any identified weaknesses in national immunization service delivery and programme performance; 4. ensuring effective disease surveillance and reporting systems are in place; and 5. identifying, investigating and rapidly responding to signals of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.