Vaccinations are one of the most important achievements in medicine, as they allowed to reduce the number of cases, and in some cases to eliminate lethal infectious diseases. It is estimated that vaccination prevents the death of at least 12 million people worldwide. What are the types of vaccinations in Poland and are all of them compulsory? Find out what are the contraindications for certain vaccinations and what complications may occur after the vaccine.
Vaccines are drugs of biological origin, which, when administered, are supposed to mimic the natural infection with a given microorganism and, consequently, generate permanent immunity. The advantage of vaccines, as opposed to natural infection, is that the vaccine stimulates our immunity without causing disease. Vaccines can be administered in a number of ways. The most common injections are intradermal, subcutaneous or intramuscular injections. In addition, some vaccines may be administered orally or intranasally.
Why are we vaccinating?
The aim of vaccines is to limit the spread of microorganisms and to protect against the severe course of disease caused by the given microorganism.
In Poland, vaccinations are divided into:
- mandatory , which are free
- andrecommended , which are paid.
There is avaccination calendar in Polandwhich includes:
- information about diseases against which children and adults should be vaccinated,
- vaccination schedules
- and specifies the dates and intervals between vaccinations, types of vaccines and methods of their administration.
Thanks to compulsory vaccinations, Poles acquire herd immunity to diseases caused by dangerous pathogens.
Vaccinations in Poland - types
Vaccines are divided into:
due to their ability to stimulate individual mechanisms of the immune response- specific- stimulating a sustained immune response against the microorganism
- non-specific- stimulating the non-specific immune response
Specific vaccinesare classified according to the type of antigen they contain:
1.Live vaccines:
- of natural origin - animals with reduced virulence (i.e. the ability to cause disease) e.g. against smallpox
- of natural origin - human attenuated (i.e. not causing disease) e.g. measles, rubella, mumps vaccine
- artificially obtained e.g. mutant viral particles
2. Whole organisms killed:
- viruses e.g. rabies vaccine, hepatitis A
- bacterial e.g. pertussis vaccine
3. Vaccines containing microbial surface antigens:
- capsular polysaccharides e.g. against Streptococcus pneumoniae
- surface antigen e.g. against hepatitis B
- neuramidase and haemagglutinin e.g. influenza vaccine
- virus-like particles with recombinant antigens e.g. HPV vaccine
4. Vaccines containing inactivated toxins (toxoids):
- bacterial toxoids (cell-free vaccines) e.g. against tetanus, diphtheria
Breakdown by number of antigens in the vaccine:
- monovalent- contain one species or serotype of the microorganism e.g. against measles
- polvalent- containing several serotypes of the same microorganism e.g. against influenza
In addition, vaccines can be combined into a single drug (the so-calledcombination vaccines ). Among them, the following can be distinguished:
- two-component, e.g. against hepatitis A and B
- three-component e.g. against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough
- four-component, e.g. against rubella, measles, mumps and chicken pox
- five-component, e.g. against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis and Haemofilus influenzae type b
- six-component, e.g. against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, Haemofilus influenzae type b and hepatitis B
The COVID-19 pandemic also sped up the use ofmRNA vaccines , which may have been used on a large scale for the first time. The advantage of mRNA vaccines is that they can be produced in a short time.
Vaccinations in Poland - compulsory vaccination calendar 2022
Administration within 24 hours after birth:
- Hepatitis B (first dose)
- tuberculosis (BCG)
Application at 2 months of age:
- Hepatitis B (second dose)
- rotavirus (first dose)
- diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (first dose)
- Haemofilus influenzae type b(first dose)
- Streptococcus pneumoniae (first dose)
Application at 4 months of age:
- rotavirus (second dose)
- diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (second dose)
- Haemofilus influenzae type b (second dose)
- Streptococcus pneumoniae (second dose)
- poliomyelistis (first dose)
Application at 5-6 months of age:
- rotavirus (third dose)
- diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (3rd dose)
- Haemofilus influenzae type b (third dose)
- poliomyelitis (second dose)
Application at 7 months of age:
- Hepatitis B (third dose)
Application at 13-15 months of age:
- measles, mumps, rubella (first dose)
- Streptococcus pneumoniae (third dose)
Application at 16-18 months of age:
- diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (4th dose)
- poliomyelitis (third dose)
- Haemofilus influenzae type b (4th dose)
Application at 6 years of age:
- diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (first booster)
- poliomyelitis (booster dose)
- measles, mumps, rubella (booster dose)
Application at age 10:
- measles, mumps, rubella (booster)
Application at age 14:
- diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (2nd booster)
Application at 19:
- diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (3rd booster)
Vaccinations in Poland - contraindications
The universal contraindications for vaccine administration are:
- anaphylactic reaction to previous vaccines,
- allergic reactions to vaccine components, e.g. allergy to egg proteins,
- exacerbation of a chronic disease,
- acute illness of moderate or severe course, e.g. a cold with high fever.
Additionally, contraindications to the administration of vaccines containing live microorganisms are:
- congenital or acquired immunodeficiencies,
- pregnancy,
- too short period after administration of another vaccine containing live microorganisms.
Vaccinations in Poland - complications
Adverse vaccine reactions (NOP) can sometimes occur after vaccination:
- severe post-vaccination reactionis a reaction that is life-threatening and requires hospitalization; it can lead to permanent damage to he alth or death
- severe post-vaccination reaction , which is particularly severe, but does not requirehospitalization and is not life threatening, e.g. swelling at the injection site or high fever
- Calendar of vaccinations 2022. Compulsory vaccinations for 2022
- Vaccinations for adults. What diseases should I vaccinate against?
- Contraindications for vaccination - when should you not get vaccinated?
- Rescheduling COVID-19 vaccination - how to? MAP of free dates