Primary health care for sustaining immunisation services in a war-affected setting: the experience of Ukraine

Immunisation is a cornerstone of public health success;1 however, recent humanitarian crises, population displacement, misinformation, and funding cuts have increasingly threatened immunisation efforts worldwide, leaving millions of people susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). Ukraine is no exception. Long before the full-scale Russian invasion, Ukraine struggled with low immunisation coverage and multiple outbreaks of VPDs.2 Data from a 2024 study of Ukrainian refugees revealed an immunity gap, particularly for measles, diphtheria, and hepatitis B,3 underlining the immediate impact of war on immunisation continuity and the increased risk of outbreaks.