[Why are preventive vaccinations still required?]

Vaccinations in Poland and other industrialized countries have been in the firing line for more than two decades. Members of the "anti-vaccine movement" and alternative medicine supporters are openly reluctant to this form of preventing infectious diseases, however their arguments are not based on reliable medical data. Contrary to false theories, the threat of infectious diseases is not lower than in the past. What is more, it has escalated in recent years as a result of the increasing number of parents who avoid vaccinations. Nevertheless, erroneous arguments find a breeding ground among parents or guardians of children covered by vaccination programs undermining trust in vaccines in general. In this situation, it is the responsibility of: physicians who provide preventive care for children, administrative bodies responsible for implementing immunization but also medical schools and other healthcare institutions, on the one hand to raise the level of social awareness about the meaning of vaccination, and on the other to effectively oppose the anti-vaccine propaganda. The way to achieve these goals is to thoroughly understand social needs and constantly improve the professional qualifications of primary care physicians, midwives, community nurses and doctors of different specialties who have daily contact with children and their parents. The key area of focus should also be to place greater emphasis on education about the prevention of infectious diseases among students of all medical school faculties.