Poland has finished its first nationwide inspection of mandatory child vaccinations since World War II, with initial findings now public.
Mass Vaccination Audit Revealed
Radio ZET reports that the nationwide audit covering 10,000 immunisation points and 7.5 million children has ended. Inspectors checked vaccinations against 13 infectious diseases, including smallpox, measles, and pertussis. Analysis of the data is ongoing, with comprehensive results expected in about six months.
Officials say it is difficult to assess why some parents did not vaccinate their children and how many missed doses there were. Dr Pawel Grzesiowski, head of the Main Sanitary Inspection, noted that factors such as travel, private clinics, or avoidance may play a role, rather than conspiracy theories.
Regional Variations in Immunisation
Success is noted in neonatal tuberculosis coverage, with 96 % of newborns receiving the vaccine. Booster shots, however, show lower rates. “Children maintain immunity with booster doses, but sudden spikes in diseases like pertussis can still occur,” Grzesiowski explained.
Data indicate lower vaccination rates in eastern provinces—Lublin, Podlaskie, Subcarpathian, and Lesser Poland. Similar differences are expected between rural and urban settings.
Polio Coverage Remains High
In early September, Polish Radio reported that 94 % of children in their first year of life had received the polio vaccine, per the Main Sanitary Inspection’s card review.
Less than 6 % of infants missed the scheduled polio dose, meaning 94 out of 100 newborns are vaccinated. At age six, coverage falls to 85 %, though subsequent doses restore higher rates. Currently, 92 % of eighteen‑year‑olds are vaccinated per the schedule.
Polio vaccination requires four doses: two in the first year, one at age two, and a booster at six years.