Review of the Year 2022 Events: January-March

JANUARY

Poland struggled with the fifth wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The Omicron variant began to be responsible for the increasing number of infections. The Minister of Health, Adam Niedzielski, announced a package of solutions to increase the availability of testing for the presence of the pathogen, so that an antigen test can be performed in every pharmacy, the result of which will be sent to the central database. In turn, President Andrzej Duda signed the act on the creation of a compensation fund

Pfizer and BioNTech announced the launch of a clinical trial that will evaluate the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of an mRNA vaccine candidate based on the Omicron variant.

Pandemic regulations were prepared in a hurry, without a sufficient assessment of their compliance with the Constitution. At that time, the state also failed to meet the needs of entrepreneurs, taxpayers and consumers. It is essential to eliminate legal uncertainty through good legislation. Rebuilding citizens' trust in law-making bodies is one of the key tasks of public authorities. These are the main conclusions of the report of the Supreme Audit Office on the effects of the pandemic published in January.

Free flu vaccinations in pharmacies have become a fact. From January 11, the group of medical professions authorized to qualify and perform influenza vaccinations was joined by, among others: pharmacists. The vaccination service has become available in selected facilities, which are Pharmaceutical Vaccination Points.

FEB

Shortening of isolation to seven days, lifting of contact quarantine, faster return to stationary learning in schools - these are only some of the decisions announced on Wednesday by the Minister of Health and the Minister of National Education and Science. - We are dealing with the beginning of the end of the pandemic - assessed Adam Niedzielski. He said that this was a bold declaration, but he cited examples of other countries where the Omikron wave has also passed its peak and which are already lifting restrictions. – This is the scenario that awaits us as well.

On February 24, Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine. A wave of refugees from a war-torn country came to Poland. Some of them needed medical care. The Ministry of Health declared to help these patients. Already in the first days of the war, over 100 Polish hospitals were ready to receive any wounded

MARCH

The obligation to wear masks, home isolation and home quarantine for the infected's household members and all quarantines, including away ones, have been lifted. The obligation to cover the nose and mouth has been maintained in medical entities.

Professor Marian Zembala, an outstanding cardiac surgeon and former minister of health, has died. Prof. Marian Zembala was 72 years old. He was married and had four children. He held the position of Minister of Health in the government of Ewa Kopacz from June 16 to November 16, 2015.

Deputies adopted a bill on assistance to citizens of Ukraine. According to it. Ukrainian refugees who came to Poland can receive a PESEL number after confirming their identity, and their stay in our country is considered legal. This also means access to the public health care system on the same terms as Poles.