What should I know about vaccinations? The most important information [WE EXPLAIN]

Proven content

Vaccinations save lives. Thanks to them, it was possible to eliminate dangerous diseases, such as smallpox, and significantly reduce the incidence of others, such as polio or tuberculosis. In recent years, we have observed a trend to move away from compulsory vaccinations. The problem is becoming more and more apparent. It’s important to know why immunization is important, especially now that we’re in the midst of the COVID-19 epidemic.

1. The unfortunate statement by President Andrzej Duda about compulsory vaccines and the subsequent attempt to explain it have shown that there are still many misconceptions about vaccinations
2. In Poland, we have a compulsory vaccination calendar with 11 diseases against which we vaccinate children aged 0-19. They include, among others tuberculosis, measles, tetanus and pneumococci. In addition, there are a number of recommended vaccinations, which are also very important
3. Thanks to vaccinations, we have eliminated or significantly reduced the spread of many deadly diseases. High immunization status of the society guarantees protection not only for vaccinated people, but also for those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons or have reduced immunity. It is worth remembering, especially in the context of the still dangerous COVID-19 epidemic
4. You can find more up-to-date information on the TvoiLokony home page

The president’s unfortunate statement about vaccination

President Andrzej Duda during his speech in the town of Końskie, when asked about vaccines against COVID-19, replied that he was against any compulsory vaccinations. He also admitted that he had never vaccinated against the flu, saying “because I don’t think so” as the reason. After a few hours, a correction appeared on the president’s official Twitter account, which unfortunately showed that the president does not have much knowledge about vaccinations.

«STOP MANIPULATION! I believe that possible vaccination against the coronavirus should not be mandatory. Just like there are compulsory flu vaccinations. As for other diseases (polio, tuberculosis, scarlet fever, etc.), this is quite different. Another conversation. » – wrote the president.

Some commentators rightly noted that there is no vaccine against scarlet fever. On the wave of talks about immunization, we decided to remind you why vaccination is important and must not be underestimated.

See also: Regional Medical Chamber: President Andrzej Duda’s words about vaccinations are absolutely unacceptable

What are the obligatory vaccinations we have in Poland?

Compulsory vaccinations are included in the vaccination calendar and, according to it, are implemented in groups of children and adolescents up to 19 years of age and people particularly at risk of falling ill, i.e. students of medical universities, healthcare workers, and veterinary staff.

In Poland, compulsory vaccinations include vaccinations against:

1. tuberculosis,
2. pneumococcal infections,
3. diphtheria,
4. whooping cough
5. polio,
6. measles
7. mumps
8. rubella,
9. tetanus,
10. hepatitis B,
11. Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib)

Vaccination against tuberculosis and the first dose of vaccination against hepatitis B are administered to the newborn before discharge from the neonatal unit. This is a recent change. Previously, these two vaccinations were administered in the first XNUMX hours of a child’s life, now this time has been extended, but no later than until the newborn leaves the hospital.

In the second month of life, the child is given a second dose of vaccination against hepatitis B and the DTP vaccination, i.e. against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. This second vaccination is also recommended for pregnant women. In the second month of life, the first pneumococcal vaccination dose and the first Hib vaccination dose are also given.

Then, between three and six months of age, another two doses of the DTP and Hib vaccination are administered, as well as two doses of the polio vaccination. In the fourth month of life, the baby also receives a second dose of the pneumococcal vaccine.

In the seventh month, your baby receives the last dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, and between 13 and 15 months of age, the last dose of the pneumococcal vaccine, and the first dose of the MMR vaccine against mumps, measles and rubella.

Then, between 16 and 18 months of age, further doses of the polio, Hib, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccines are given. The next compulsory vaccinations are waiting for the child at the age of 6. At this age, DTaP vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis and another dose of polio, measles, mumps and rubella vaccination is given. At the age of 14 and 19, the child receives two more booster vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough.

(Source: immunization.pzh.gov.pl).

The preventive vaccination program is based on the current epidemiological situation of infectious diseases in the country and the financial capacity of the state. It is developed on the basis of the recommendations of a wide range of experts, including pediatricians, infectious agents, public health specialists and epidemiologists who operate within the Sanitary and Epidemiological Council. Compulsory vaccinations, as the name suggests, are obligatory for every Polish citizen, if there are no health contraindications for their implementation.

Vaccinations recommended in the vaccination calendar

Recommended vaccinations include those not included in the compulsory vaccination calendar. Usually these are paid vaccinations. Some local governments organize free vaccination campaigns recommended for specific social groups. The recommended vaccinations include vaccinations against:

1. rotaviruses
2. flu
3. meningococci
4. human papillomavirus (HPV)
5. chicken pox
6. hepatitis A
7. tick-borne encephalitis

– The fact that some vaccinations are recommended vaccinations in our calendar, i.e. they are in fact not reimbursed, does not mean that they are less important from the health point of view than compulsory vaccinations. An example is vaccination against rotavirus, which is very often chosen by parents – explained in an interview with Medonet, Dr. Ilona Małecka, a pediatrician and employee of the Department and Department of Health Prevention at the Medical University of Poznań.

See also: Vaccinations have been resumed. “COVID-19 did not make other infectious diseases no longer dangerous”

Why is universal vaccination important?

The percentage of parents who avoid the obligation to vaccinate their children increases every year. This is a very disturbing trend. In 2019, compared to 2010, we recorded a 10-fold increase in vaccination avoidance rates.

In the previous year, 6 out of 1000 children aged 0-19 were unvaccinated because of non-compliance. Why is compulsory vaccination so important?

Simply put, thanks to vaccines, we have stopped falling ill with diseases that until recently were either fatal or contributed to serious complications. Thanks to vaccinations, we have eliminated smallpox, we have significantly reduced the incidence of polio, tuberculosis, measles, whooping cough. As we read on the website of the Ministry of Health, mass vaccinations of the Polish population have led to a significant reduction in the risk of developing diseases such as for diphtheria and hepatitis B.

The introduction in Poland of compulsory vaccination against pertussis (administered in a combined vaccine: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus) resulted in a 100-fold decrease in the incidence of this disease.

Vaccinations protect the individual against disease or severe course of the disease, but also affect the entire population. High vaccination coverage affects herd immunity (also known as population, herd or group immunity). It offers protection for non-immunized people, thanks to the fact that most of the population has produced antibodies through vaccination. This means that vaccinated people protect not only themselves, but also those who cannot be vaccinated for various medical indications or who have significantly reduced immunity.

High vaccination coverage of the society guarantees that the disease will not spread in this society. Unfortunately, along with the increase in vaccination avoidance, the vaccination coverage of the society slightly decreases. If this trend continues, it could fall below the herd immunity threshold. This term refers to the percentage of people who are immunized in the overall population that causes the number of new infections to begin to decline.

Usually this threshold is 90-95 percent. resilient people in society. The level of the threshold depends on the particular disease. To talk about herd immunity for measles, the threshold of immunity should exceed 95%. In the case of mumps, 75-86 percent is enough. If these thresholds are reduced, the risk of larger-scale infections increases.

Vaccination against COVID-19. A challenge that we must meet

From December 27, 2020, vaccination against COVID-19 has started in Poland. The European Medicines Agency has approved for use in the European Union two preparations for vaccination against COVID-19 – Pfizer / BioNTech and Moderna. The vaccines are given in two doses, approximately 21 days apart.

Why is it worth getting vaccinated against COVID-19? Vaccination against COVID-19 in 95 percent. protects against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection. Vaccination is also a way to protect others. The more people vaccinated, the lower the risk of transmission of the infection on. More benefits of vaccination against COVID-19 can be found on the website of the Ministry of Health.

More about the COVID-19 immunization:

1. What does the COVID-19 vaccination look like? [WE EXPLAIN]
2. Who can get vaccinated against COVID-19? CDC Recommendations
3. Diseases that entitle you to get vaccinated against COVID-19 faster
4. Postvaccination adverse reactions after the COVID-19 vaccine – how many cases have occurred in Poland so far?
5. Sequence of vaccinations against COVID-19. Check which group you belong to [EXPLAINED]

When are vaccinations contraindicated?

Herd immunity ensures the safety of people who, for medical reasons, have not been vaccinated or have no immunity to infectious diseases. An absolute contraindication to vaccination is, for example, a severe allergic reaction that has occurred in the past after administration of the vaccine. For safety reasons, vaccines containing live bacteria or viruses (the so-called attenuated vaccines), i.e. vaccines against tuberculosis, measles, mumps and rubella, as well as varicella and rotavirus, are not given to children with severe immunodeficiency (with some congenital immunodeficiencies, AIDS , during treatment of malignant tumors, after organ transplantation).

In addition to absolute contraindications to vaccination, there are also contraindications specific to each type of vaccine. Vaccination should be postponed if:

1. the vaccine contains live viruses and the baby has received blood products or immunoglobulin in the last 3-11 months
2. not four weeks elapsed between one dose of the attenuated vaccine and the next
3. your child has symptoms of a severe illness (e.g. high fever) or has had an exacerbation of a chronic disease

In case of problems with the implementation of the obligatory vaccination calendar, the doctor may agree with the parent an individual vaccination schedule, selected in terms of the child’s health.

Consequences of non-vaccination

Vaccinations are to protect us from getting sick or against the severe course of the disease and its complications. In the case of compulsory vaccinations, they protect us against a whole range of complications. For example, vaccination against measles (MMR – measles, mumps, rubella) protects against complications of this disease, which include, among others, pneumonia, bronchitis, laryngitis or middle ear inflammation, meningitis and inflammation of the brain. It also protects against a long-term complication, which is subacute sclerosing encephalitis, which is an incurable disease and appears several years after contracting measles.

Each disease that we vaccinate against causes a number of complications that we can avoid thanks to vaccination. Rubella is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, especially in the first trimester – becoming ill by a pregnant woman may lead to miscarriage or cause serious defects in the baby. Therefore, MMR vaccination is also recommended for women planning a pregnancy, who have not had rubella, and have been vaccinated 15 years before a potential pregnancy.

In the case of whooping cough, children between the ages of 0 and four are most at risk of developing the disease. This means that the disease can start in the first few weeks after birth, before the baby receives the first dose of the vaccine. Therefore, pregnant women are advised to have whooping cough vaccination, thanks to which the baby is protected in the early months of life through passive immunity.

It is also worth remembering that, for example, hepatitis B can be infected by a beautician or hairdresser, and tetanus while working in the garden. Each of these diseases is dangerous and can have serious complications. There is a vaccine for both.

When looking for information about vaccinations, it is worth verifying the source we use. All sources on the basis of which this article was written can be found in the «Sources» tab at the bottom of the page. There you can find more information on immunization.

Editors recommend:

1. Compulsory vaccinations for children – what should you remember?
2. When not to vaccinate a child? Contraindications to vaccinations
3. Splitting vaccinations: “one visit – one vaccine”