Transcarpathian deputies have allocated 1.2 million for vaccination of children

At the extraordinary session of the Regional Council, deputies provided UAH 1.2 million for the purchase of BCG vaccine for vaccination and revaccination of children against tuberculosis. The corresponding decision "On amendments to the Program of fighting tuberculosis in the region for 2012-2016" was approved unanimously.

 The need to purchase immunobiological products is cuased by a complete lack of centralized supplies to health care facilties of the region during 2014-2015 years, which led to the suspension of the vaccination of children against tuberculosis in December 2014. As of April 1, 5470 children are unvaccinated against tuberculosis.

"Disruptions in the supplies of BCG started in September. Many parents would buy them through private entities. Children in the region have not been vaccinated for three months, and no money for this purpose has been allocated from the state budget. The lack of primary prevention of tuberculosis among children can lead to deterioration of the epidemic situation, especially among children, the emergence of widespread and severe forms of TB with complications," – the head of the Regional State Administration Health Care Department, a deputy of the Regional Council Vasyl Skryp said.

He also assured that tomorrow the department would start tendering for procurement of vaccines. Overall, about 20 thousand children will be vaccinated.

Volodymyr Chubirko stated that the issue of vaccine procurement is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health Care, but given that since the beginning of the year, Transcarpathia has not received the vaccine, the deputies decided to deal with this issue. "It concerns the safety of our children, and we must respond quickly to lack of vaccine. Parents of newborns have repeatedly appealed to the Council that their children are not vaccinated and buying BCG is quite problematic. For the allocated funds, we can provide children with the vaccine until the end of this year. We will turn to the Ministry of Health Care on this issue," – the head of the Regional Council said.