Parents could receive SMS for the first time to take their children to vaccination. At what age should the vaccines be administered

Nine vaccines that are administered to children from the first hour after birth, in maternity, until the age of 14, are provided free of the Romanian state and are part of the national vaccination calendar – the vaccination scheme recommended by the Ministry of Health. One novelty is that, starting this year, parents in Romania would automatically receive an SMS from the national electronic register, when the time is approaching to go to the doctor, for one of these vaccines.

The vaccines included in the national vaccination calendar are only recommended, because Romania does not have a law that provides for the obligation of vaccination. However, there are schools and kindergartens that request, at registration, the child's vaccination sheet.

The cost of all the vaccines that appear in the national vaccination calendar is theoretically supported by the Romanian state. Over time, there have been cases when some of these vaccines were temporarily missing from maternity or family doctors, and parents had to buy them for children.

Prof. dr. Doina Azoicăi, the president of the Romanian Epidemiology Society, says that, starting this year, parents would receive an SMS from the National Electronic Vaccination Register, to warn them that the moment should take their child to the doctor's office for the next vaccine. The announcement was made by the epidemiologist Doina Azoicăi during the debate “vaccination throughout the life”, organized by the coalition of patients with chronic disorders.

In Romania, the vaccination of children is done according to the National Vaccination Calendar, elaborated by the Ministry of Health.

The vaccines included in the national vaccination calendar are:

Hepatitis Vaccine B (HEP B)
When? It is administered within the first 24 hours of life.
Where? In maternity.

Calmette Guerrin (BCG) vaccine
When? It is administered in the first 2-7 days of life.
Where? In maternity.

The hexavalent diftero-tetano-pertussis hexavalent vaccine-polyomyelitic-haemophilus b-hepatitic b (DTPA-VPI-HIB-HEP. B) and pneumococcal vaccine
When? It is administered at the age of two months.
Where? To the family doctor.

Hexavalent Diffine-Tetano-Pertussis Acellular-Poliomyelitic-Haemophilus B-Hepatitic B (DTPA-VPI-HIB-HEP. B) and pneumococcal vaccine
When? It is administered at the age of 4 months.
Where? To the family doctor.

Hexavalent Diffine-Tetano-Pertussis Acellular-Poliomyelitic-Haemophilus B-Hepatitic B (DTPA-VPI-HIB-HEP. B) and pneumococcal vaccine
When? It is administered at the age of 11 months.
Where? To the family doctor.

The measles-Russian-oreion vaccine (ROR)
When? It is administered at the age of 12 months.
Where? To the family doctor.

The measles-Russian-oreion vaccine (ROR)
When? It is administered at the age of 5.
Where? To the family doctor.

Tetravalent Diffteno-Tetano-Pertussis Acellular-Poliomyelitic (DTPA-VPI) / VPI
When? It is administered at the age of 5-6.
Where? To the family doctor.

IFTERO-TETANANO-PERTUSIS (DTPA)
When? It is administered at the age of 14.
Where? To the family doctor.

HPV vaccine is free for girls and boys but gets up with the pharmacy recipe

Separately from the national vaccination calendar, the Romanian state has decided to completely compensate for the HPV virus vaccine. Girls and boys between the ages of 11 and 19 can make the vaccine for free.

Unlike vaccines in the national calendar, the HPV vaccine is not directly found in the family doctor's office. It can be raised for free from the pharmacy, with a prescription from the family doctor or from the specialist doctor (gynecologist). Then it can be given in the doctor's office.

After the onset of sexual life, the vaccine is usually recommended after a discussion with the gynecologist and a Pap test.

Recommended vaccines that are made for a fee

In addition, a number of vaccines are recommended for children, but they are not compensated in any way by the Romanian state. They can be bought by parents from the pharmacy and administered in the doctor's office.

Pay attention to the transport of vaccines: they should be taken from the pharmacy in a thermal insulation bag, and if not administered the same day, they are kept in the refrigerator.

List of optional vaccines recommended by the Ministry of Health:

Rotaviral vaccine – It is a lively mitigated virus vaccine that protects against diarrhea produced by rotavirus. It is administered orally, two or three doses starting with the first 6 weeks of life, with at least 30 days between doses.

Varicelic vaccine – It is a lively attenuated virus vaccine (Oka strain), which protects against varicella, a disease popularly known as “Bubatul Mare” or “wind”. Two doses of vaccine are made, at a distance of 6 weeks. It is administered injectable, subcutaneously, to adults and children, starting with the age of 9 months.

Meningococcal vaccine – prevents certain forms of diseases produced by meningococcus (meningitis). Depending on the type of vaccine, one or more doses are administered, at different ages.

The hepatitis vaccine a -It is administered in a single dose, with revaccination at 6-12 months. Protects against hepatitis A (dirty hands disease).

Vaccination of children suffering from chronic diseases

A special category is represented by children diagnosed with a chronic disease, which can be more vulnerable and may need additional protection, compared to a healthy child.

For children with chronic diseases, the national vaccination calendar generally applies, but it is analyzed, together with the doctor, the situation at the time of each vaccination, so that there are no contraindications.

In addition to the vaccines included in the national calendar, you can appreciate the opportunity to complete the vaccination scheme with optional vaccines: influenza, rotaviral, meningococcal, varicelic, hepatitis A, HPV, if the epidemiological and clinical circumstances require this decision. (Source: Information guide on vaccination of patients with chronic diseases – children and adults, authors: Dr. Doina Azoici, president of the Romanian Epidemiology Society, and Dr. Alice Nicoleta Azoicăi).