Vaccine scare threatens health in Ukraine

Shannon Bourret
March 25, 2009
4:27 pm

Health officials report widespread scare about vaccine side effects in Ukraine has led to a sharp drop in immunizations that could result in disease outbreaks spreading beyond the former Soviet republic. Vaccines for diseases such as diphtheria, mumps, polio, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, whooping cough and others are being refused by thousands of Ukrainians because they are afraid of these “side effects”. The blame is being put on government mismanagement and irresponsible media coverage of an anti-vaccination campaign that came out after the death of a 17year old boy who had received a combined shot for measles and rubella. Some people blame the vaccination for his death. However, the Ukrainian Health Ministry and World Health Organization have said that the vaccine is unrelated to his passing. Since then, there has been an estimated 10% drop in vaccines in Ukrainians. The Health Ministry is working to promote the need for immunizations in Ukraine, and they are also looking to launch a new measles and rubella vaccination campaign.

I kind of find this story a little bit ridiculous! I understand if there were serious side effects of a vaccine, that the population should have a major concern and refuse to be vaccinated themselves. However, I just don’t see the issue. Yes, a 17 year old boy died, but officials said that the mixed vaccine was not the cause and the two are unrelated. If this is the only event that has occurred that is keeping all of these Ukrainians from getting vaccinated, then I think that’s pretty insane! It is amazing to me that there has been a 10% drop in vaccines in Ukrainians! Maybe there is more to the story that was not reported and if so, I would love to know more about it. Because as is, the story just does not make sense to me!

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