The vaccine will no longer be used: new polio vaccination rules from the Ministry of Health for 2026

Ukraine will fully transition to the use of inactivated polio vaccine from January 1, 2026, in accordance with the updated National Immunization Schedule. The Ministry of Health published this information.

Fedir Lapiy, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and candidate of medical sciences, commented on the changes in vaccination. He noted that starting in the new year, the oral polio vaccine (OPV) will no longer be used. Instead, vaccinations will be carried out only with an inactivated vaccine, also known as “inactivated”.

This step is important because although OPV demonstrates high effectiveness, there are rare but serious risks associated with its use. In particular, it can lead to the emergence of vaccine-associated polioviruses, which are usually registered among unvaccinated people in regions with low vaccination coverage. In addition, the current version of OPV does not protect against type 2 poliovirus.

The transition to an inactivated vaccine will reduce the aforementioned risks, increase parental confidence in vaccination, improve vaccination coverage among children, and provide protection against all three types of the polio virus.

In addition, the vaccination schedule is changing. It now includes five mandatory vaccinations at 2, 4, 6, 18 months, and 6 years. Revaccination at 14 years is canceled.

Experts note that if a child has not received all polio vaccinations or has missed doses, they should consult a doctor. In the event of a violation of the Vaccination Calendar, vaccination should be carried out according to the adjusted four-dose schedule, regardless of the child’s age. For individuals up to 18 years old, this vaccination will be free of charge and financed by the state.