UKRAINE / IMMUNIZATION

An unprecedented vaccination crisis that started in May 2008 is putting many Ukrainian children at risk of contracting deadly diseases. Parents' fear of immunizing their children could be the result of negative reporting in the media, rumors and misinformation. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:50
• Production Date: 22 October 2009
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: HEALTH; DISEASE PREVENTION; DISEASE CONTROL
• Geographic Subject: UKRAINE
• MAMS Id: U091022f

Description

STORY: UKRAINE / IMMUNIZATION
TRT: 1:50
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 25 SEPTEMBER 2009, ODESSA , UKRAINE

Shotlist

1. Med shot, mother and child at the policlinic
2. Close up, baby being vaccinated
3. Wide shot, corridor of the policlinic
4. Close up, Olga’s face
5. Close up, Luka, Olga’s baby
6. Wide shot, two mother with their babies in the waiting room
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Professor Robert Ouvrier:
“It can be shown very clearly, it happened in Great Britain it has happened in Australia , when there’s been a fall off in the immunization rate, children start dying form the primary disease much more commonly than they et side affects that led to the parents stopping immunization”
8. Wide shot, children coming of school
9. Wide shot, mother being interviewed
10. Wide shot, head nurse showing cold chamber where vaccines are kept
11. Wide shot, nurses in staff room discussing vaccines issues
12. Med shot, nurse
13. Med shot, nurse giving vaccination to a young boy
14. Close up, nurse injecting the vaccine
15. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Latyshev:
“No one wants to think the worst but an epidemic will be the result of people refusing to vaccinate. Everybody has a right to choose to vaccinate or not. But no one thinks about the consequences. They just live in the present moment.”
16. Wide shot, Latyshev with his kid in the payground
17. Med shot, Latyshev with his son on the side
18. Close up, Latyshev son’s face

Storyline

Vaccinating one’s child is a routine health practice in many countries around the world. But here, in Ukraine , it’s become the topic of a passionate debate, leaving the Ukrainian population vulnerable to infectious diseases.

Olga, like many apprehensive mothers, did not get her seven-month-old baby, Luka immunized. While there are legitimate health risks for unvaccinated children, dispelling mothers’ fears is not easy.

SOUNDBITE (English) Professor Robert Ouvrier:
“It can be shown very clearly, it happened in Great Britain it has happened in Australia , when there’s been a fall off in the immunization rate, children start dying form the primary disease much more commonly than they the side affects that led to the parents stopping immunization.”

The alarming trend amongst parents not to immunize their children is mainly due to growing pressure from negative media coverage and comments from those skeptical of vaccination.

In response to the immunization crisis Ukraine, UNICEF has launched a project called “restoring public trust in immunization. This project supports the ministry of Health in rebuilding people’s confidence by making sure parents and health professionals receive correct and evidence based information

SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Latyshev:
“No one wants to think the worst but an epidemic will be the result of people refusing to vaccinate. Everybody has a right to choose to vaccinate or not. But no one thinks about the consequences. They just live in the present moment.”

The current spell of fear against vaccines amongst the Ukrainian people, indicates that rebuilding trust could be a long painstaking process.