Ever since the war started, millions of Ukrainians fled from their homeland to other western nations. The initial days of the war were unarguably very horrific for the locals. 

The war not only compelled people to run for their lives but it collapsed the medical system, which was already overwhelmed. Access to routine vaccines and medications is one of the biggest challenges people are facing today in Ukraine. 

Most people have already fled to the medical reception centers set up by Poland and Romania for further migration to other European nations. Even those who have crossed the borders are facing problems because of vaccines. 

According to Dr. Vijai Bhola, a volunteer physician from the US volunteering at the medical centers in Poland, the COVID vaccine is not the only vaccine that people require. They need a vaccine for polio, measles, and other important childhood immunization, he added. 

Before the war began, only 35 percent of the total population was vaccinated for coronavirus. Nobody knows the current figure as people are now dispersed around to nearby nations. As unvaccinated people are moving to other parts of Europe, they might increase the spread of COVID. 

Moreover, one of the most important medications for children is the polio vaccine. In 2021, Ukraine recorded 4 cases of polio. Polio is an air-borne disease that can spread very quickly in crowded settings like refugee camps. Polio’s spread is one of the biggest concerns for physicians in Ukraine. 

Children and the elderly are the most vulnerable of all age-groups to a host of dangerous illness. Children who are unable to receive their routine childhood vaccines might get infected with viruses they would otherwise nev 

Vaccines are a major concern, but people are also unable to get medications for conditions as important as hypertension. As transportation and logistics have been badly affected by bombing, it has become very challenging to transport essential medical supplies to certain parts of the country. 

Recalling an incident from the medical reception center, Bhola says that there was an elderly couple who were hypertension patients who didn’t take medicine for twelve days as they were running for their lives. If people with HIV don’t take their medicine regularly, their health might deteriorate rapidly, Bhola told medtigo. 

Also, diseases like kidney failure require regular dialysis and are very difficult to treat in times like this. It is good that most people saved their lives, but it is equally important that they are provided with adequate medical treatment and supplies, including immunizations and medicines. 

Various NGOs, locals, and other organizations are doing their best for the humanitarian crisis, but the people need more.