Electronic Vaccination Card for Children in Poland: 2025 Updates

Poland plans to introduce an electronic mandatory vaccination card for children by the end of 2025. The goal of this initiative is to increase childhood vaccination rates and eliminate cases of vaccination evasion. Additionally, starting from April 2025, a large-scale verification of paper vaccination cards for all children will be launched across the country.

Why is the electronic vaccination card being introduced?

According to Paweł Grzesiewski, a representative of the legal department of the Patient Rights Ombudsman, Poland has been experiencing cases where medical facilities fail to carry out mandatory vaccination programmes. Parents who wish to avoid vaccinations can select clinics that do not administer them, leaving children without the required immunisations.

The electronic vaccination card will allow all vaccination records to be stored in a single system, preventing falsification or concealment of information about missing vaccinations. It will also help monitor vaccination schedule compliance and promptly identify violations.

How will the new system work?

According to information from the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate (GIS), the electronic card will contain data on mandatory vaccinations against 13 infectious diseases. Currently, Poland relies on paper cards, which have been the primary method of tracking vaccinations for over 70 years. However, due to changes of residence, use of private health insurance, or travel abroad, the data in these cards is often incomplete.

The electronic system already features a recommended vaccination card, which can be found in the Patient Internet Account (IKP). The mandatory electronic card will be integrated into this system, making information easily accessible to both doctors and parents.

Verification of paper cards and legislative changes

To assess the current state of the vaccination tracking system, a verification of all paper vaccination cards in Poland will begin in April 2025. In total, records for 7.5 million children across more than 10,000 medical facilities will be reviewed. This does not mean individual checks of parents or medical staff — the primary objective is to understand the scale of the problem and prepare for the transition to an electronic system.

Poland currently has a system of fines for parents who refuse to vaccinate their children. However, according to GIS spokesperson Marek Waszewski, this system is not sufficiently effective. Parents may face fines of up to 50,000 złoty, but court proceedings drag on for years, allowing many to avoid accountability. Introducing the electronic card will help address these issues and strengthen oversight of mandatory vaccinations.

The transition to an electronic vaccination registration system is an important step towards protecting children's health in Poland. It will contribute to reducing vaccination evasion, improving control over medical records, and strengthening the country's overall healthcare system.

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