Prof. Wysocki: Infectious diseases were, are and will be. Therefore, we should all get vaccinated

– The pandemic has shown that infectious diseases are not some ancient history, which certainly does not concern us – says prof. dr hab. n. med. Jacek Wysocki, Infectious Diseases Specialist, emphasizes the importance of compulsory vaccinations and emphasizes that everyone should be vaccinated against infectious diseases, both children and adults.

1. Two years ago, in my office, I was asked questions about the advisability of vaccination against certain diseases, doubts were expressed as to whether they still existed – explains prof. Wysocki, head of the Department and Institute of Health Prevention, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of K. Marcinkowski in Poznań, Deputy Chairman of the Polish Society of Wakcynology
2. As she adds, the pandemic made us realize that infectious diseases exist, threaten us, and can take our loved ones
3. Prof. Wysocki: I am calling for mass participation in vaccination against COVID-19. We must improve the immunity of the population. There is hope that then the swing of constraints and loosening will end and we will return to normal life.
4. Between April 26 and May 2, we celebrate European Immunization Week
5. You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page

Infectious diseases were, are and will be

Let’s start with psychology. Frightening or educating? What works better with vaccinations?

Prof. Jacek Wysocki: I believe in education. Fear is a short-term stimulus. It was proved by the first lockdown in March last year, which turned out to be extremely effective. We were all afraid. However, the longer the pandemic continues, the less fear we have. That is why I think that the key now is access to knowledge, to the latest scientific data. Of course, not everyone will draw the same conclusions, but convincing someone with facts will surely have a long-term effect.

The Internet can be a treasury, it can also be a garbage can …

When conducting classes with students, I always draw their attention to one basic element: who is the author of the message. If there are reliable institutions, organizations or scientific journals behind the information, we can trust them. However, if we come across unknown names or recently established associations, we must approach it with great caution. A two-minute verification is usually enough to find out more.

Today, can we try to answer the question: has the COVID-19 pandemic affected our awareness of vaccines?

It definitely changed her. Some of its elements even very much. Two years ago, in my office, I was asked questions about the advisability of vaccination against certain diseases, doubts were expressed as to whether they were dangerous or whether they still existed.

1. We’ve lost herd immunity to measles. All because of refusal of vaccinations

The pandemic has shown that infectious diseases are not some ancient history that certainly does not concern us. Today, everyone, not only health care professionals, knows that these diseases have been, are and will be. We know that we will be defenseless against them for a long time, that they can take our relatives and friends, and that there will be a dramatic fight for vaccinations. We found out about it painfully. I have no doubt that something has changed in the collective consciousness.

Is the acceptance and timely implementation of compulsory and recommended vaccinations a problem today?

Compulsory vaccinations were suspended, fortunately for a short time, at the turn of March and April 2020. International and Polish organizations very quickly issued a recommendation not to postpone them. We realized that if the difficult pandemic situation in hospitals is overlapped with, even locally, an epidemic of another infectious disease, such as whooping cough or measles, the health care system may not be able to withstand it.

Today I can say that more than 90 percent of children are immunized. cases in a timely manner. Adults, on the other hand, were vaccinated en masse against pneumococci and influenza in summer and autumn. I do not remember that these vaccines have ever been available in pharmacies before.

Pneumococcus and meningococcus – how to defend against them?

More and more is being said about vaccination of both children and adults against pneumococci. Why are they so important?

Pneumococcal bacteria are bacteria that cause not only severe pneumonia, but also a much more serious disease: invasive pneumococcal disease. The bacteria then enter the bloodstream and attack various organs. There may be pneumococcal meningitis, pneumonia with sepsis or blood poisoning, or otitis media. Epidemiologists often emphasize that pneumococci are extremely dangerous for young children, those under the age of five. However, the disease also affects adults, most often over XNUMX and older. Unfortunately, mortality in this age group is also increasing.

1. Combined vaccines – advantages and disadvantages

Fortunately, conjugated vaccines appeared, i.e. those containing the antigens of the most common pneumococcal serotypes coupled with a protein carrier, and since 2017 they have been successfully introduced into the calendar of compulsory immunization for infants.

How do you evaluate the effects of the Compulsory Vaccination Program in the field of pneumococci?

If we compare the incidence rates of pneumococcal meningitis included in the NIPH-NIH reports in the periods before the introduction of vaccinations (2014-2016) and the first three years of universal vaccination (2017-2019) in children in the third year of life, we see a decrease by nearly half.

This is the result of the fact that about 90 percent. children born in 2017-19 received pneumococcal vaccination. Nothing but enjoy.

1. Vaccination calendar – when to perform compulsory and recommended vaccinations? [WE EXPLAIN]

Other bacteria that are dangerous to our health and even life are meningococcus. How can we protect ourselves against them?

Meningococci are strange bacteria. Many of us wear them in our nasopharynx and don’t even know it. However, with some undetected deficiencies in the body’s own immunity, rapid meningococcal sepsis and meningitis can occur. There are not many such cases in Poland, about two hundred a year, but the mortality rate reaches 20%, and permanent complications may be even more frequent. One of the most dangerous serotypes is the B serotype. Again, vaccinations come in handy (the choice of preparation is usually dependent on age by the doctor).

Another infectious disease, or whooping cough, is most often associated with childhood diseases, while adults also suffer.

Whooping cough affects adults and can be a nuisance, but it is not dangerous for them. However, an adult with whooping cough, also a parent, is a very serious threat to newborns and infants. Vaccinated according to the vaccination schedule, the newborn acquires immunity after the second dose, i.e. around 14 weeks of age. It is completely safe after taking the third dose, which is around 22 weeks.

So everyone should get vaccinated, regardless of age. For adults, I suggest taking a preparation that protects against pertussis, tetanus and diphtheria at the same time every 10 years. For myself, for children and for grandchildren.

Vaccinations during COVID-19

Parents are now trying to avoid visiting the clinic. What is the vaccination process like during a pandemic?

It all starts with a telephone consultation and checking if the child or someone around him is sick or in self-isolation or quarantine. Later, the exact date and time of the visit are set, during which the doctor admits only healthy children. After the qualifying examination, we vaccinate. We also ask for the presence of only one guardian and of course for the observance of all epidemic safety rules.

1. Vaccinations against COVID-19 in the EU. How is Poland doing? [RANKING]

This year’s European Vaccination Week runs between April 26 and May 2. What would the professor appeal to Poles for?

First of all, I would call for massive participation in vaccination against COVID-19. We need to improve the resilience of the population. There is hope that then the swing of constraints and loosening will end and we will return to normal life.

Let us ask ourselves if we want to continue living in confinement, or maybe we prefer to return to schools, universities and meetings with friends. I choose normality.

Also read:

1. Will there be consequences for people not getting the COVID-19 vaccine?
2. How many people in Poland died or had thrombosis after vaccination? New data
3. Will it also be possible to mix COVID-19 vaccines in Poland? The Ministry of Health responds

The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.