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A total of 100 000 doses of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (Jcovden) were delivered to Ukraine this month under the COVAX initiative, and distributed to 22 regions in the country by the Ministry of Health. 

“These vaccines will provide further protection against COVID-19 and we are working continuously with the Ministry of Health and health professionals to ensure that people in Ukraine have access to vaccines. WHO urges everybody to use the opportunity to protect themselves and others,” said Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine. 

The COVAX initiative aims to ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines against COVID-19 for every country in the world. COVAX is being coordinated by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and WHO. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is working with manufacturers and partners on the procurement and logistics of COVID-19 vaccines for COVAX.

WHO in Ukraine has trained more than 100 medical workers and trainers across the country to conduct further training on the use of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (Ad26.COV2-S [recombinant]). With support from WHO, Ukrainian health-care workers have received over 23 000 copies of guidance materials on the use of the vaccine, and more are being produced. 

“We are grateful to our international partners for their support to Ukraine. We know that the coronavirus has not disappeared, and we continue to record growing numbers of new cases of the disease,” said Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine and Chief State Sanitary Doctor. “During the war, when people are often forced to be in overcrowded conditions and do not have full access to medical care, protection against COVID-19 with the help of vaccination is especially important.” 

The Janssen vaccine is intended for people over 18 years old and has been approved for emergency use listing by WHO. In Ukraine, the Janssen vaccine was registered on 2 July 2021.

All adults and children over the age of 12 can be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ukraine (age recommendations differ per vaccine). Anyone over the age of 18 may receive a booster dose following the primary vaccination series. People aged 60 and over, as well as those aged 18–59 with conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 disease are prioritized for a second booster dose.

The European Union, GAVI, UNICEF, the United Kingdom, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and WHO continue to support Ukraine on COVID-19 vaccination, and future deliveries will ensure that as many people as possible receive protection.

The delivery the Jcovden vaccine was made possible thanks to financial support from the United Kingdom.