Mikołaj Konstanty, Ph.D., from the NIA, and Prof. Wysocki from the Department of Health Prevention: "Adults are lost in the vaccination system. Pharmacies are opening a new path to prevention"
The lowest vaccination rates in Poland are still observed among adults, even though this group is most in need of protection. "Adults are lost in the system and don't really have anywhere to get vaccinated, so they simply need to be provided with opportunities," emphasizes Prof. Dr. hab. Jacek Wysocki from the Department of Preventive Medicine. One key solution is pharmacy vaccination points, which, as Mikołaj Konstanty, Ph.D., from the NIA, notes, could transform the availability of preventive medicine in Poland. This topic was one of the main points of discussion in the Polish Senate.
The entire debate took place during the Vaccine Forum 2025 , which gathered experts, legislators and representatives of medical professions in the Senate of the Republic of Poland to jointly develop new solutions to improve health prevention in Poland.
Prof. Dr. hab. Jacek Wysocki, head of the Department of Health Prevention, pointed out that Poland is still struggling with the problem of insufficient vaccination rates among adults.
The lowest vaccination rates are observed among adults . Minister Grzesiowski said that vaccination rates for children aren't that bad. But adults are lost in the system and don't really have anywhere to get vaccinated, so they simply need to be provided with opportunities," said Professor Wysocki.
As he explained, the largest age groups, those aged 20–59, are the least vaccinated, which poses a huge challenge for the public health system.
The professor also stressed that the healthcare system must respond to the surge in interest in vaccinations that appears under the influence of media reports on epidemics.
There will be a wave of adults eager to get vaccinated quickly. Where are they supposed to get it done? he asked rhetorically.
He also drew attention to the need to educate doctors and medical staff about their own immunity and the protection of patients:
When we educate students and residents, we say: "Oh, take care of yourself so you can work. If you can't work, the system will collapse in the event of an epidemic. Secondly, don't infect your patients. […] Thirdly, take care of your family so you don't infect your wife, your children, your parents."
Another solution that can improve vaccination rates is combining several vaccinations during one visit.
We tell the patient: "You don't have to come back every two weeks for another vaccination, because we can do some things at once, and today, for example, COVID and the flu can be treated in one visit. […] Adding up vaccinations on a single day doesn't mean adding up symptoms. Side effects and adverse reactions don't increase with the number of vaccinations administered," explained Professor Wysocki.
The question of where best to vaccinate adults was answered by Dr. Mikołaj Konstanty, pharmacist, vice president of the Supreme Pharmaceutical Council.
Ladies and gentlemen, first of all, I would like to say at the very beginning […] that we have been waiting for this moment for a very long time. […] In Poland, pharmacies can currently perform 26 recommended vaccinations, 11 of which are reimbursed in the form of 15 services. This, ladies and gentlemen, is such a significant change that both Europe and the world are watching us with open eyes, keeping their fingers crossed for us," he noted.
Konstanty recalled that vaccination points in pharmacies were established during the COVID-19 pandemic and are now becoming a permanent element of the prevention system.
See also:One of the most important effects of the legal changes is the possibility for pharmacists not only to perform vaccinations, but also to issue reimbursed prescriptions.
During a single visit to the pharmacy, a patient can receive a consultation, a pharmaceutical prescription that will be reimbursed, based on this prescription, they will receive a vaccine, they will be qualified, medical records will be created, the patient will receive a vaccination certificate and, most importantly, at the very end, the pharmacist will enter all this data into the system – explained Konstanty.
While the changes are significant, the NRA vice president also pointed to challenges that still need to be addressed.
We have a systemic problem with data access. […] A very important element for us is reimbursement automation, which will be based on ICD-10 codes. […] It's also important for pharmacists to be able to get behind the door, becoming an antidote to vaccinations in nursing homes, workplaces, and schools," he noted.
In conclusion, Konstanty expressed hope that the next adult vaccination season will bring a significant improvement in vaccination rates:
I hope, and this is a certain commitment also on the part of pharmacists, that this system will start to work to such an extent that we will be able to boast of a better result in terms of vaccination coverage among adults next year.
Updated: 22/09/2025 09:30
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