Brenda Rodita and Mihail Bucur, along with their 3 daughters, Angelina, Victoria and Leila, are among the thousands of families who have fled to the Republic of Moldova due to the war in Ukraine. They have been living at the refugee centre in Chișinău for several months and are grateful for the shelter provided. Brenda and Mihail are relieved that their daughters are safe and can enjoy life.
They are particularly grateful that their daughters were recently vaccinated against measles after an outbreak was detected in the centre. Since the beginning of 2024, 54 confirmed measles cases have been reported in the Republic of Moldova. This includes 18 cases reported in the refugee centre in March–April 2024 among children and adults, many of whom required hospitalization.
“When the first cases of measles were detected in our refugee centre, we were very scared. The family doctor explained to us that the vaccines would protect us from falling ill and developing serious forms of the disease. We immediately understood that vaccination was the best way to protect ourselves. We agreed to be vaccinated without hesitation. I believe it is our responsibility to protect our children and ourselves,” says Mihail.
“Fortunately, no one in our family got sick or had to be hospitalized. After the vaccination, we did not experience any adverse reactions, and we all felt fine. Today, now that most of the people in the centre have been immunized, I am much more at ease and believe we are out of danger,” adds Brenda.
Immunization equity
Due to the war in Ukraine, many children were not vaccinated on time, and some of those who were vaccinated could not present the necessary documentation in their host countries. Immunization equity is crucial to ensure that all people, regardless of their background or circumstances, have access to life-saving vaccines. This principle is especially important in refugee centres, where people are particularly vulnerable and at high risk of disease outbreaks.
“All the refugees in the centre were worried when the first measles cases were confirmed,” says Alla Savina, a Roma community leader in the refugee accommodation centre. “We talked to the parents and, together with the family doctor and specialists from the National Agency for Public Health, we explained that the vaccine is effective and that they should not be afraid,” she added. Most of the refugees accommodated in the centre in Chișinău are of Roma ethnicity.
“I have been vaccinated and agreed that all my children and 3 grandchildren, including my 2-year-old granddaughter, should be vaccinated,” Alla continues. “Some people are hesitant to get vaccinated, but I am sure they will realize how important vaccination is for their health.”
Simple, safe and effective
Nicolae Furtuna, Head of the Disease Prevention and Control Directorate at the National Agency for Public Health, said that most measles cases were among unvaccinated children, who were hospitalized and received all necessary medical care. “The National Agency for Public Health intervened immediately and monitored the outbreak until the quarantine period ended. We discussed the importance of vaccination with the centre numerous times. More than 90 people were vaccinated in record time,” he reported.
“Vaccination is a simple, safe and effective way to protect yourself from disease, enabling children and adults of all ages to live longer and healthier lives. WHO is working together with partners to protect vulnerable populations from vaccine-preventable diseases, ensuring equity in the immunization process so that no one is left behind,” added Dumitru Capmari, Immunization Programme Coordinator at the WHO Country Office in the Republic of Moldova.
The Ministry of Health, with the support of the National Agency for Public Health and the WHO Country Office in the Republic of Moldova, continues to monitor the health status of people in refugee accommodation centres and conduct information activities on vaccination.
Continued partnership with the European Union
Funding from a joint project of the European Union and WHO/Europe to support the deployment of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination in the Eastern Partnership countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine – has been repurposed to address the immediate health needs of the conflict-affected population of Ukraine.