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The Preventive Immunization Program for 2021 stipulates that vaccination of children against rotavirus will be compulsory and free. Until now, it was recommended and the costs of the preparation were borne by the parents. Who is covered by the amendment to this year’s PSO?
- On January 1, 2021, vaccination against rotavirus was introduced into the mandatory Protective Vaccination Program. Vaccination is to be free
- Rotaviruses are the most common cause of acute infectious diarrhea in children under the age of five
- Vaccination against rotavirus is compulsory for children born after December 31, 2020. For children born in 2020, vaccination is recommended, the cost of vaccination is borne by the parent
- More current information can be found on the Onet homepage.
Who will benefit from free rotavirus vaccination?
On January 1, 2021, vaccination against rotavirus was introduced into the mandatory Protective Vaccination Program (PSO). It is also new that vaccinations are to be free. So far, the costs of the vaccination have been borne by the parents. According to polsatnews.pl, those who decided to vaccinate their children against rotavirus paid about PLN 300 for one dose of the vaccine. “The entire cycle of this vaccination often cost as much as 1000 zlotys” – writes the website.
However, the introduced changes do not apply to all children, but only those born after December 31, 2021. For babies born in 2020, vaccination is recommended, and therefore optional, and the costs are still borne by the parents.
Free rotavirus vaccination will be delivered with a three-dose oral vaccine in the form of a solution. As we read on the website of the National Institute of Public Health of the National Institute of Public Health, “early initiation and early completion of the vaccination schedule are preferred”. The first dose should be given after the age of six weeks, but no later than the age of three months. “Subsequent doses should be given before the age of 22 weeks, with an interval between subsequent doses of not less than four weeks”. As the PZH National Institute of Public Health points out, only in exceptional cases the last dose of the vaccine may be administered no later than before the age of 32 weeks.
- The 2021 Protective Vaccination Program is available on the website of the National Institute of Public Health
Vaccinations are performed in primary care clinics and neonatal departments. Vaccination against rotavirus infections may be carried out simultaneously with other vaccinations.
Rotaviruses are dangerous for young children. What does the vaccine protect against?
Rotaviruses are very dangerous, especially for young children. They are the most common cause of acute infectious diarrhea in children under the age of five. The risk is mainly related to dehydration which can occur very quickly in severe diarrhea and high temperature. Remember that adults can also become infected with rotavirus.
- Rotavirus symptoms – disease characteristics, hospitalization
As the National Institute of Public Health reminds us, rotaviruses are one of the biggest killers of children under five in the world – due to poor access to hospital care. «It is estimated that before the introduction of vaccines in 2004, there were 111 million cases worldwide, of which over 500 were the children were dying. In Poland, 20 thousand. up to 50 thousand illnesses. Over 90 percent the reports concern hospitalized cases »- we read at immunization.pzh.gov.pl.
Vaccinations do not fully protect against infection – emphasizes the National Institute of Public Health. The role of the vaccine is to protect against severe diarrhea that requires hospitalization. «It fulfills this role excellently – it protects 85-98 percent of vaccinated children before hospitalization for rotavirus diarrhea ».
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