The Odesa region has received 1600 doses of hepatitis B vaccine intended for the free immunization of adults in risk groups. The vaccine has already been delivered to the Odesa Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as reported by the institution.
Currently, the distribution of the vaccines among medical facilities in the Odesa region is underway.
Overall, Ukraine has received 37,500 doses of hepatitis B vaccine through the cooperation between the Ministry of Health and the humanitarian organization Project HOPE Polska.
Why is hepatitis B vaccination important? Insights from medical professionals
Hepatitis B is a dangerous viral disease that affects the liver and can lead to chronic illness, cirrhosis, or cancer. Chronic hepatitis B is incurable, but vaccination can prevent infection in over 90% of cases, and protection lasts at least 20 years, sometimes for a lifetime.
Newborns are at the highest risk, as 90% of infections at an early age progress to chronic forms. That’s why hepatitis B vaccination is part of the National Immunization Schedule and is provided free of charge.
For adults, priority groups for hepatitis B vaccination include healthcare workers, military personnel, employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, firefighters, social service staff, and patients in closed institutions (psychiatric care facilities, etc.) and other risk groups.
In Ukraine, children receive vaccinations against ten dangerous diseases, including hepatitis B. According to the Center for Public Health of Ukraine, as of July 1, 2025, 5,590 Ukrainians were being treated for viral hepatitis B, among them 125 children.
This shipment is part of a joint project between the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and Project HOPE Ukraine, aimed at strengthening immunoprophylaxis and protecting the population from infectious diseases.
