The topic of vaccination was not the only issue raised during the meeting. The Council also discussed the possible course of the emerging fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to speed up the vaccination process and mandatory vaccinations for medical staff. Ideas for new rules to protect hospital wards from coronavirus transmission were also discussed. The participants of the meeting also stressed the need to comply with the existing safety rules. Planned investments in the Polish infectious disease hospital network were also a topic of the meeting.

Third dose of vaccine for adult patients

Together with the Medical Council, the Government is working to systematically expand the list of people who can further strengthen their immunity against COVID-19. Since the beginning of September, the third dose of the coronavirus vaccination can be administered to individuals who, among others, are undergoing oncological treatment, have received transplants, have immunodeficiency or are HIV-infected. Whereas, as of 24 September, another dose of the vaccine has been made available to people who are 50 years of age or older.

Out of concern for the safety of Poles, the Government is working on a process that will soon make it possible for all adults in Poland who have already received two doses of the formula to be vaccinated with the third dose. Together with the Minister of Health, it has been decided that such vaccinations could begin within a few weeks.

Notably, the Medical Council recommends that the so-called booster dose be administered no earlier than six months after completion of the primary vaccination.
All the recommendations and stances of the Medical Council can be found at: https://www.gov.pl/web/koronawirus/rada-medyczna

The vaccine reduces the risk of COVID-19-related death

Recent data from the Ministry of Health shows that among all deaths of people infected with coronavirus, only just over 2 per cent were vaccinated. This means that nearly 98 per cent of those who died from COVID-19 were unvaccinated (data as of 15 October 2021). The Health Ministry also reports that only 0.12 per cent of vaccinated people have been infected with coronavirus (data as of 15 October 2021).

September figures also show that it is worth getting vaccinated. There were more than twice as many infections among the unvaccinated as among the vaccinated in September. COVID-19-related deaths among those vaccinated in September were almost four times fewer than among the unvaccinated.

Get vaccinated - protect yourself and your loved ones!

Currently, the number of vaccinations performed in Poland exceeds 38.3 million. While the number of people fully vaccinated is more than 19.7 million. However, this is still not enough to achieve collective immunity and effectively defeat COVID-19.

Do not wait and register! Vaccination allows you to avoid contracting COVID-19 or to pass mildly through the infection.

Information on how to register for the vaccination can be found at www.gov.pl/szczepimysie
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The Medical Council is a subsidiary body of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. It is composed of its chairman - the Prime Minister's chief advisor on COVID-19, Prof. Andrzej Horban, MD, PhD, and medical experts from across the country.

The tasks of the Medical Council primarily include analysing and assessing the current situation in the country, developing proposals for action and giving opinions on legislation - such as regulations that introduce new rules and restrictions in the country.