WHO Poland marks European Immunization Week

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The WHO Country Office in Poland is marking European Immunization Week (EIW) 2024 with various events in Warsaw, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, National Research Institute, Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, Institute of Mother and Child and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Poland. 

Over 500 participants will take part in the Family Immunization Run, part of an event to be held at the National Stadium on 21 April 2024. Amateur athletes and children will have a chance to run alongside professional athletes. People will also have the chance to try other sporting games and take part in quizzes which focus on the event theme of immunization and vaccines, which aims to increase public understanding and trust. The general public is encouraged to attend and witness a remarkable showcase of community spirit, knowledge sharing and sportsmanship. 

The events on 22 and 23 April will focus on the exchange of evidence-based knowledge between scientists, leading experts, policy-makers, professionals and other participants to ensure the prevention and control of infectious disease outbreaks. 

During the "Trust Vaccinations" conference, participants will be updated on the current vaccination status of children in Poland, and learn results of recent research conducted by UNICEF Poland in collaboration with the Institute of Mother and Child Foundation, Yale School of Medicine and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. In addition, participants will be informed about the results of the "Say YES to vaccinations" campaign.  

The conference will provide a platform for sharing the latest scientific practices and improvements for more effective immunization coverage, particularly in the context of global migration and the refugee emergency in Poland and the European Region. 

The programme is designed to encompass a wide range of activities, including keynote lectures, speeches, and panel discussions featuring leading Polish and international specialists. Dr Mark Muscat, Technical Officer, Vaccine-preventable Diseases and Immunization, WHO/Europe, will present a session on addressing immunity gaps, and there will be additional sessions on the risk of epidemics, vaccination of pregnant women and behavioural interventions in promoting vaccinations.  

The final day marking EIW 2024 will be dedicated to adult vaccinations, including a conference, "Calendar of Adult Vaccinations", which will be organized in collaboration with the National Institute of Public Health.  

The conference will take place at the headquarters of the National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw. The primary goal of this conference is to increase awareness about the importance of adult vaccinations. The theme of this year's conference will emphasize that preventing infectious diseases is not limited to childhood, and adult vaccinations are a key tool in maintaining a healthy life. Contributions include Dr Nino Berdzuli, WHO Representative in Poland and Special Envoy to Refugee Receiving Countries presenting a session on the life-course approach to immunization. Other topics will include vaccination of patients with non-communicable diseases and talking to adult patients about vaccinations.  

These 3 days of events will provide an opportunity for communities and scientific experts to advocate for the benefits of immunization and the role that it plays in ensuring better health for all.