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62 countries

Who gets iodine tablets, and when.

62 of 62 countries have a iodine page; 55 are verified against their sources; the others are still in review or carry points to confirm. Each row links to the page, with the official source behind it.

Europe · 34

CountryIodine tablets
AustriaAustria gives potassium iodide free to under-18s and pregnant or breastfeeding women; 18-40s buy it at pharmacies; not for over-40s.
BelgiumIn Belgium, iodine tablets are free at pharmacies with an ID card, one box per 4 people.
BulgariaIn Bulgaria, 65 mg potassium iodide is sold without prescription; in an emergency it is given out at distribution points, on Ministry of Health orders.
CroatiaCroatia plans potassium iodide for people under 40 within 25 km of Krško, handed out on official order.
CyprusCyprus publishes no official guidance on potassium iodide tablets and has no nuclear reactors.
Czech RepublicCzech KI tablets are pre-distributed around Dukovany and Temelín.
DenmarkDenmark recommends iodine tablets at home for people under 40 and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
EstoniaTake iodine tablets in Estonia only on official instruction.
FinlandFinland recommends iodine tablets for people aged 40 or less and pregnant women: pharmacy, no prescription, taken only on official instruction.
FranceFrance gives free iodine tablets in pharmacies near nuclear sites and keeps State stocks for everyone else. to confirm
GermanyGermany's Länder stockpile 189.5 million 65 mg potassium iodide tablets.
GreeceNo.
HungaryPotassium iodide is stockpiled within 30 km of Paks; prescription-only; take only on official order.
IcelandIceland does not pre-distribute iodine tablets.
IrelandIreland distributes no iodine tablets: the EPA says they would not be necessary for a UK nuclear emergency.
ItalyItaly hands out potassium iodide only on official order, to ages 0-40 and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
LatviaLatvia plans no iodine distribution: the nearest active nuclear plant is 110 km from its border.
LithuaniaLithuania gives free potassium iodide by e-prescription in 17 municipalities near the Astravets plant; take it only on Ministry of Health instruction.
LuxembourgLuxembourg distributed potassium iodide tablets to all residents.
MaltaMalta authorises two 65 mg potassium iodide tablets: G.L.
MoldovaProtective-dose potassium iodide is not on Moldova's medicines register. to confirm
NetherlandsThe Dutch government pre-distributed 65 mg potassium iodide around Borssele, Doel, Emsland and Mol.
NorwayIn Norway potassium iodide is sold without prescription.
PolandPoland keeps potassium iodide in state reserves and hands it out at municipal points only if a radiation emergency is declared.
PortugalPortugal has no nuclear plants and no public iodine distribution.
RomaniaIn Romania, 65 mg potassium iodide is prescription-only.
SerbiaSerbia plans iodine thyroid blocking above 50 mSv in the first 7 days.
SlovakiaIodine prophylaxis is planned around Bohunice and Mochovce.
SloveniaNear Krško, households keep potassium iodide at home; elsewhere, state stocks are handed out on official order.
SpainFree potassium iodide at pharmacies within 10 km of a Spanish nuclear plant, without prescription.
SwedenSwedish county boards post potassium iodide 65 mg to homes within about 25 km of Ringhals, Oskarshamn and Forsmark.
SwitzerlandResidents within 50 km of Beznau, Gösgen or Leibstadt get free 65 mg potassium iodide tablets every ten years.
UkraineIn Ukraine potassium iodide is taken only on official order.
United KingdomIn the UK, 65 mg potassium iodide is a pharmacy-only medicine, pre-issued near nuclear sites.

Americas · 9

CountryIodine tablets
ArgentinaWithin 10 km of Atucha or Embalse, iodine tablets are handed out at the green alert and taken only at the red alarm.
BrazilBrazil supplies KI (130 mg tablets, 20 mg/mL syrup) through SUS in a nuclear emergency.
CanadaKI pills go free to homes near Ontario nuclear plants and Point Lepreau, NB, and free on order further out.
ChileChile publishes no potassium iodide guidance: no distribution, zones or sale advice.
ColombiaColombia publishes no official potassium iodide guidance: no distribution, no zones and no stated sale status.
Costa RicaCosta Rica publishes no official guidance on potassium iodide: no stock, distribution, zones or sale rules from the CNE or the Ministry of Health.
MexicoLaguna Verde has a 16 km protection zone under Mexico's PERE plan. to confirm
PeruPeru has no nuclear power plant and we found no iodine pre-distribution. to confirm
United StatesKI is sold without a prescription in the U.S.

Middle East and Central Asia · 7

CountryIodine tablets
GeorgiaGeorgia has no nuclear power plant. to confirm
IsraelNo current official Israeli guidance on potassium iodide was found, and no thyroid-blocking tablet is registered. to confirm
KazakhstanKazakhstan publishes no official public guidance on potassium iodide distribution, stockpiles or iodine prophylaxis zones.
KuwaitNo official Kuwaiti guidance on potassium iodide tablets was found: no distribution, zones or sale rules.
QatarQatar publishes no official information on potassium iodide stockpiles, distribution or sale.
TurkeyTurkey's rules list iodine tablets as a protective action, but no thyroid-blocking potassium iodide tablet is licensed and no public plan was found. to confirm
United Arab EmiratesAround Barakah, ENEC says iodine tablets may be given to evacuees at reception centres.

Asia-Pacific · 11

CountryIodine tablets
AustraliaIn Australia, states and territories decide on potassium iodide in a nuclear emergency.
IndiaNDMA sets 130 mg KI or 170 mg KIO3; district authorities hand tablets out in an emergency.
IndonesiaIndonesia has no nuclear power plant.
JapanJapan pre-distributes stable iodine within about 5 km of nuclear facilities and hands it out within about 30 km at evacuation.
MalaysiaMalaysia publishes no official guidance on potassium iodide tablets: no distribution, no zones, no public advice.
New ZealandNew Zealand publishes no potassium iodide guidance.
PhilippinesNo official potassium iodide distribution, stockpile or public advice was found from the DOH, PNRI or OCD.
SingaporeSingapore publishes no official guidance on potassium iodide tablets: no distribution, stockpile or sale rules.
South KoreaSouth Korea stockpiles 2 iodine doses per resident plus 20% around nuclear plants.
TaiwanTaiwan pre-distributes potassium iodide to residents aged 40 or under near nuclear plants.
ThailandThailand does not distribute potassium iodide to households.

Africa · 1

CountryIodine tablets
South AfricaAround Koeberg, potassium iodate tablets are issued at strategic locations in an emergency.

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