During the two weeks of the refugee crisis, we vaccinated about six hundred Ukrainian citizens against COVID-19, whom Poland has already accepted about 1.3 million. The Health Commission, which on Wednesday listened to the information from the minister of health about medical aid for refugees, heard that in the Ukrainian society the interest in vaccinations is even lower than in the Polish one.
Medical assistance for refugees. What about vaccinations?
Published March 10, 2022 07:57
Poland, with the beginning of Russia's war against Ukraine, abolished all procedures related to the COVID-19 pandemic on the border with the attacked neighbor - for humanitarian reasons, but also, it seems, primarily logistical. Although the Minister of Health announced that in the first place, refugees will be able to use tests and vaccinations free of charge, but these are not obligatory for them. The members of the Health Committee, who on Wednesday discussed medical aid for war refugees, pointed out that it was a risky decision, because it posed a great epidemic threat - especially where refugees stay in large groups (stations in the largest cities, halls converted into reception points). ). This is confirmed by volunteers who in the last two days have been alerting about very large numbers of people with clear symptoms of infection.
The Ministry of Health must be aware of the threat, because, as Waldemar Kraska said, the ministry has data that show that at the end of February - that is, in the first days of the refugee crisis - the peak of the fifth wave of COVID-19 was passing through Ukraine. - It is good that the COVID-19 wave is falling in Poland, but the question is whether in a moment we will not have a problem due to the influx of unvaccinated refugees - said Katarzyna Lubnauer (KO).
Meanwhile, Poland has no idea not only to prevent a possible rebound in covid statistics, but there is no consistent concept when it comes to vaccinating children and adolescents, despite the fact that Waldemar Kraska emphasized the poor immunization of young Ukrainians against infectious diseases. MP Poland 2050, prof. Wojciech Maksymowicz appealed that the government would oblige children and youth from Ukraine to vaccinate immediately, without the statutory period of 3 months, especially for those who will use nurseries, kindergartens and schools. Prof. Maksymowicz emphasized that not only the low level of vaccination against infectious diseases was and is a problem of Ukraine, but also the low credibility of documents confirming vaccinations due to widespread corruption.
Waldemar Kraska informed the deputies that over seven hundred children from Ukraine are currently hospitalized in Polish hospitals (the most, almost 150, in Małopolska), mainly with symptoms of pneumonia or a more severe cold. Few require dialysis and there are also small patients with oncological diseases.
Kraska assured that all those who need help have it free of charge, although the law on help for Ukrainian citizens, which was passed on Wednesday evening, is not yet in force.
Healthcare for refugees is expected to cost about PLN 200 million per month, but these are very conservative and unlikely calculations, based on the assumption that a million people will find shelter in Poland. According to experts' estimates, there may be three or even five times more of them.
