A bill has been registered in the Ukrainian parliament that could radically change the rules for children attending schools and kindergartens. The document, known as Bill No. 15286, proposes tightening control over preventive vaccinations and introducing new requirements for enrolling children in educational and recreational institutions.

New rules for admission to groups

The essence of the initiative lies in synchronizing the rules for protecting the population from infectious diseases with the law "On the Public Health System." The key innovation concerns the mandatory provision of medical documentation upon admission to school, kindergarten, or summer camp.

Parents will be required to provide a certificate or extract from a medical record confirming three facts:

  • The child has undergone a medical examination.
  • The child has no contraindications for staying in a group.
  • The child's vaccination card complies with the national vaccination schedule.

The bill establishes a direct ban: children who have not received mandatory vaccinations according to the schedule are not allowed to attend educational institutions and children's camps.

Exceptions and the role of the Medical Advisory Commission

The document provides mechanisms for situations where vaccination is impossible due to health conditions. If vaccinations have not been administered or are delayed due to temporary or permanent medical contraindications, the child may be admitted to school. However, the decision on admission is made by the Medical Advisory Commission (MAC) of the healthcare institution.

An important condition for such exceptions is a favorable epidemiological situation in the region. If the threat of infection spread is high, the admission of unvaccinated children may be restricted even with medical indications.

Digitalization and Ministry of Health powers

The bill also redistributes powers in the healthcare sector. The Ministry of Health will have the right to independently determine the list of infectious diseases subject to vaccination, approve the vaccination schedule, and the list of mandatory procedures.

Furthermore, a full transition to digital record-keeping is planned. All data on administered vaccinations, as well as refusals of vaccination, will be entered into a single electronic healthcare system. This will allow educational institution staff to promptly check the vaccination status of each child.

Context: updating the vaccination schedule

The discussion of the bill takes place against the backdrop of changes already underway in the healthcare system. As of January 1, 2026, the updated Schedule of Preventive Vaccinations came into force in Ukraine.

The list of mandatory vaccinations includes vaccines against 11 infectious diseases. Special attention is paid to new vaccination schemes for hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, tuberculosis, and poliomyelitis. For the first time, the schedule includes free vaccination for girls aged 12–13 against the human papillomavirus (HPV).

At the moment, Bill No. 15286 has only been registered in the Verkhovna Rada. To come into force, the document must undergo the consideration procedure, gain the support of people's deputies, and be signed by the President of Ukraine.