Over 3 million people – half of them children – have now fled Ukraine because of the Russian invasion, according to the UN. This number is estimated to rise to 7 million.
The refugee crisis triggered by the Russian invasion is a vast human catastrophe. But as well as providing them with safety, food and shelter, countries in Europe receiving refugees should also ensure that people fleeing the war – especially children and young adults – are offered essential vaccines.
Vaccination rates in Ukraine have been low in recent years, due to an underfunded and struggling healthcare system. There has also been a high degree of vaccine scepticism among the Ukrainian public. A Wellcome Trust study found that only 50% of Ukrainians believe that vaccines are effective.
