BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhuanet)-- Vaccine side effects scare grips Ukraine as hundreds of thousands of fearful Ukrainians have refused vaccines for diseases such as diphtheria, mumps, polio, hepatitis B, tuberculosis, whooping cough among others this year, according to official estimates.

    Health officials said the current spell of fear against vaccines could result in disease outbreaks spreading beyond the former Soviet republic.

    Authorities have canceled a UN-backed measles and rubella vaccination campaign funded by U.S. philanthropist Ted Turner, and will have to collect and incinerate nearly 9 million unused doses in coming months.

    "I never thought I'd see the day where perfectly good vaccines are being destroyed," said Michael Bociurkiw, a spokesman for UNICEF.

    Around the world, health officials say they are struggling with the repercussions of vaccine fears they call unwarranted and dangerous.

    (Agencies)