How to enroll a child from Ukraine for vaccination? [WE EXPLAIN]

Ukrainian children who came to Poland due to an armed conflict and will stay with us for more than three months are subject to the obligation of preventive vaccinations, just like Polish children. Additionally, it is possible to vaccinate against COVID-19, which is available from the age of 5. How to enroll a child from Ukraine for vaccination?

1. Children from Ukraine coming to Poland for longer periods are subject to vaccination in accordance with the 2022 Protective Vaccination Program (PSO 2022)
2. Among the priority vaccinations, the Ministry of Health mentions, among others, vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella and COVID-19
3. Vaccination against polio is also very important, because this year in Ukraine the disease has returned, even though it has not been diagnosed for years
4. In Poland, no case of Heine-Medina disease (caused by the poliovirus) has been found recently. This is confirmed by the Sanepid departments from the eastern part of Poland, where there were false reports about her return
5. More information can be found on the Onet homepage
6. What’s going on in Ukraine? Follow the broadcast live

Health Ministry guidelines

Due to the influx of refugees from Ukraine to Poland, mostly women and children, the Minister of Health presented guidelines related to the implementation of health services for young patients. Recommendations for preventive vaccinations are part of them.

«According to the position of the Team for Protective Vaccinations, the Minister of Health recommends protective vaccinations from the day of arrival to Poland in children up to 19 years of age, not vaccinated against infectious diseases, according to the Individual Vaccination Calendar (IKSz), established by the doctor qualifying for vaccination on the basis of the PSO for 2022, with the use of vaccines made available by sanitary and epidemiological stations on the current terms ”- stated in the release.

Vaccinations against:

1. measles with the MMR vaccine (against measles, mumps and rubella) in the youngest group of children in the age of 2,
2. diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and poliomyelitis according to age,
3. hepatitis B according to age,
4. COVID-19 (except PSO).

If a child from Ukraine has been staying in the territory of the Republic of Poland for less than three months, vaccinations are recommended, but not obligatory. However, if he or she stays with us for a long time, vaccination is compulsory.

In a situation where a child does not have medical records and its vaccination status is unknown, it is considered that it has not been vaccinated and selected vaccinations are carried out in accordance with the PSO.

Registration for vaccination of a child from Ukraine

A parent or legal guardian who wants to vaccinate a child from Ukraine against infectious diseaseswhether this is the first dose of a given vaccine or a continuation of vaccination, must report to a medical facility. There, the child should be registered with the pediatrician, indicating that it is a preventive vaccination. In most institutions, such services are provided separately from the visits of sick children, so that young patients with infection do not expose healthy children, who come on the balance sheet or just vaccination.

Ukrainians who crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border after February 24 due to Our Country’s military aggression against their country can use medical assistance in Poland free of charge at any public health care facility (one that has a signed agreement with the National Health Fund – NFZ). It is best to visit a pediatrician at a primary health care clinic.

During the visit, the pediatrician’s doctor conducts an interview with the child’s guardian, and then examines the child and qualifies him for vaccination. The vaccine will be given by a doctor or nurse. The fact of vaccination against a given disease, along with the date and indication of the preparation used, is entered in the child’s medical records. During the visit, the pediatrician also discusses the next doses of the vaccine and the implementation of other vaccinations.

What vaccinations should a Ukrainian child receive in Poland?

In the first year of life

1. tuberculosis vaccination – one dose
2. vaccination against hepatitis B – three doses
3. rotavirus vaccination – one dose
4. vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis – three doses
5. vaccination against poliomyelitis – two doses
6. vaccination against Hib – three doses
7. pneumococcal vaccination – two doses.

In the first year of life

1. pneumococcal vaccination – one dose
2. vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough – one dose
3. vaccination against poliomyelitis – one dose
4. vaccination against Hib – one dose
5. vaccination against measles, mumps, rubella – one dose.

In the first year of life

1. vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough – one dose
2. vaccination against poliomyelitis – one dose
3. vaccination against measles, mumps, rubella – one dose

In the first year of life

1. vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough – one dose

In the first year of life

1. vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough – one dose

In addition, it is recommended to vaccinate your child against:

1. flu (after 6 months of age)
2. menigokokom (after 2 months of age)
3. chicken pox (after 13 months of age)
4. hepatitis A (after 13 months of age)
5. tick-borne encephalitis (after 13 months of age)
6. human papillomavirus (after the age of 12).

The 2022 immunization calendar is available here.

Compulsory vaccinations are free, while most recommended vaccinations are paid (the exception is the flu vaccination, which is available free of charge to everyone from the end of November 2021, and the chickenpox vaccination, which is free for children attending nurseries, toddler clubs or other childcare facilities for the youngest children).

1. See also: Free medical assistance for people from Ukraine. Where can you find help?

The rest of the material for the video.

How is the Polish vaccination calendar different from the Ukrainian one?

Most of the preventive vaccinations that are mandatory in Poland are also included in the vaccination calendar for children in Ukraine. These are vaccinations against: tuberculosis, hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib and polio. The Ukrainian vaccination program lacks rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines.

The dosage regimens of the various vaccines also vary. This applies, for example, to the polio vaccine – in our case it is a four-dose IPV, i.e. an inactivated vaccine containing three types of killed viruses, while in Ukraine it is two doses of IPV, and then four doses of OPV, i.e. a vaccine containing live but devoid of all three types of virus . Hib vaccines are also given fewer doses (three, four in our case).

Vaccination against COVID-19 for children in Poland

In Poland, against COVID-19 children over 5 years of age can be vaccinated. They are given Comirnata by Pfizer / BioNtech at a pediatric dose of 10 micrograms / dose or Spikevax (Moderna) at a pediatric dose at 50 micrograms / dose.

The child should come for the second dose after three weeks if they received Pfizera or after 28 days if they were vaccinated with Moderna. A booster dose is given to children from 12 years of age.

1. Read also: Vaccinations against COVID-19 for Ukrainians. Experts: fast educational action needed

Vaccination against COVID-19 is carried out at a selected vaccination point and requires referral. To obtain them, you should visit your primary care physician or the vaccination center where the prescribing physician is present. You will need a document to prove your identity. The doctor will issue an e-referral, which will be visible in the system for people working at the vaccination point.

Then choose the closest or most convenient vaccination point (the map is available here) and go there with your child. You will still have to complete a questionnaire on the spot. Detailed instructions on how to vaccinate against COVID-19 in Poland, being a Ukrainian, are available here.

The editorial board recommends:

1. Free dental assistance for people from Ukraine. We have a list of offices
2. Medical interview forms are also available in Ukrainian
3. Refugees from Ukraine have to pay 100 percent. for prescription. Change maybe even this week
4. The National Health Fund will cover the costs of benefits for refugees from Ukraine