According to the assessment of specialists overseeing immunization, many cases of postponement of vaccination in Poland are unjustified. The article summarises the true and false contraindications to vaccination, emphasising the importance of keeping children vaccinated in accordance with the calendar.
Incorrect contraindications to vaccination
In situations other than those described above, there are generally no contraindications to scheduled vaccination. According to experts, it is a mistake to routinely - often for weeks - postpone vaccination when conditions such as:
1) Minor infectious complaints of the respiratory tract, with a temperature not exceeding 38.5 degrees
2) Allergy, asthma, wheezing, hay fever and other allergy symptoms (except during periods of exacerbation)
3) Prematurity or low birth weight
4) Malnutrition
5) History of seizures in other family members
6) Antibiotic therapy (except for acute infections), low doses of steroids, or their use inhaled or on the skin
7) Eczema, or local inflammation of the skin
8) Chronic heart, lung, kidney and liver diseases currently in the period of compensation.
9) Neurological diseases with a stable (not progressive) neurological condition - e.g. subdural hydrops without alarming neurological symptoms, psychomotor retardation without epilepsy, cerebral palsy (without predisposition to seizures), Down syndrome.
10) Children with a history of seizures, treated with antiepileptic drugs, who have been seizure-free for at least 12 months - can be vaccinated according to the calendar, even against pertussis - with an acellular vaccine, under the cover of prophylactic antipyretic drugs.
In doubtful situations, consult the Vaccine Consultation Clinics, located in each province.
