Background Ukrainians numbering approximately 1.2 million are the largest migrant group in Poland. Data on vaccination coverage among migrants are not collected in EU, including Poland. Therefore, this qualitative study aimed to identify vaccination practices in this migrant group, to explore facilitators and barriers to vaccination and related access to Polish healthcare services. Methods In September 2019, a qualitative study of Ukrainian migrants (UMs) living in Szczecin, Poland, and recruited through a snowball sampling method, was conducted. Using a semi-structured topic guide, four focus groups were held with 22 UMs aged 18–45. Participants were asked about their attitudes towards vaccination in general with comparison between services in Poland and Ukraine. Following transcription and translation, a thematic analysis was conducted. Results Respondents were distrustful of Ukrainian vaccination policy, medical personnel and individual vaccines, however, they often returned to Ukraine for dental and gynaecological appoint-ments. While critical with regards to registering with Polish GPs practices, UMs were confident in health professionals, as well as vaccine delivery. Vaccines were perceived as safer and of better quality than in Ukraine. Difficulties in translating vaccination records were rarely reported, verbal communi-cation was not problematic due to language similarities. All UM parents reported vaccinating their children according to the Polish schedule. However, a significant number of adult UMs have not completed mandatory vaccinations, although they may have obtained false immunization certificates; according to UMs those can be obtained by bribing. Participants reported lower acceptance of the influenza vaccine, mainly due to perceptions around its importance; none had been vaccinated against influenza. None of UMs had heard of the HPV vaccine. UMs experienced challenges in accessing credible online vaccination information in Ukrainian, no official local health authority vaccination material existed either, except for information about measles. Conclusions This study pinpointed positive UM attitudes and practices regarding child vaccination in the Polish healthcare system and identified issues for improvement, such as adult vaccination. Health communication should be more tailored within UMs information delivery systems to enable migrants to make informed choices about vaccination. Further research is needed to better assess factors affecting vaccine uptake identified in this study.

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BackgroundDue to numerous blood exposures hospital staff are at risk of acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections. This study aimed at estimating prevalence of HBV, associated risk factors and HBV vaccination among Polish health care workers (HCWs).MethodsA cross-sectional sero-survey was conducted (October 2016–January 2018) in 10 randomly selected hospitals from two provinces: of low and high incidence of HBV, with the use of an anonymous, self- administered questionnaire. Blood samples were screened for hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc) with enzyme immunoassay.ResultsOf the 306 participating HCWs, 88.6% were females, 69.9% nurses (mean age 47.8 ± 9.0 years). HBV vaccination was reported by 94.2%, participants (4.7% with 2 doses, 58.1% with 3 doses, 37.2% took a booster), but of these 75.1% reported no post-immunization serology. The sero-prevalence of anti-HBc was 12.1% (95%CI 8.4–15.7%); only 11.1% had ever screened themselves for HBV infection. Out of 37 anti-HBc positive HCWs, 29 reported being vaccinated for HBV; 10.5% vaccinated HCWs were anti-HBc positive. Regarding other occupational risk factors, 27.8% had experienced a sharp injury (SI) in the last year, 80.0% of incidents were not reported. The use of safety devices (SD) was 86.3%; 35.9% participants used to recap a needle. Older age (OR = 4.24), lack of HBV vaccination (OR = 7.42), working at the province of high HBV incidence in the general population (OR = 2.69) were each predictors of participant’s HBV infection.ConclusionsHigh anti-HBc seroprevalence was found in hospital staff with older generation particularly constituting a risk group. Unsatisfactory vaccination coverage and the use of SDs, needle recapping and under-reporting of SIs were main modifiable risk factors regarding HBV infection. The study provides evidence of the protective role of HBV vaccine, as well as the possible effect of HBV incidence in the general population on HCW’s anti-HBc seropositivity. Universal vaccination, followed by strict policies to confirm immunity, better compliance with infection-control practices and widespread implementation of SDs should be enforced to protect hospital staff from occupationally acquired HBV infections.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-019-6628-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background: Ukrainians numbering approximately 1.2 million are the largest migrant group in Poland. Data on vaccination coverage among migrants are not collected in EU, including Poland. Therefore, this qualitative study aimed to identify vaccination practices in this migrant group, to explore facilitators and barriers to vaccination and related access to Polish healthcare services.Methods: In September 2019, a qualitative study of Ukrainian migrants (UMs) living in Szczecin, Poland, and recruited through a snowball sampling method, was conducted. Using a semi-structured topic guide, four focus groups were held with 22 UMs aged 18-45. Participants were asked about their attitudes towards vaccination in general with comparison between services in Poland and Ukraine. Following transcription and translation, a thematic analysis was conducted.Results: Respondents were distrustful of Ukrainian vaccination policy, medical personnel and individual vaccines, however, they often returned to Ukraine for dental and gynaecological appoint-ments. While critical with regards to registering with Polish GPs practices, UMs were confident in health professionals, as well as vaccine delivery. Vaccines were perceived as safer and of better quality than in Ukraine. Difficulties in translating vaccination records were rarely reported, verbal communi-cation was not problematic due to language similarities. All UM parents reported vaccinating their children according to the Polish schedule. However, a significant number of adult UMs have not completed mandatory vaccinations, although they may have obtained false immunization certificates; according to UMs those can be obtained by bribing. Participants reported lower acceptance of the influenza vaccine, mainly due to perceptions around its importance; none had been vaccinated against influenza. None of UMs had heard of the HPV vaccine. UMs experienced challenges in accessing credible online vaccination information in Ukrainian, no official local health authority vaccination material existed either, except for information about measles.Conclusions: This study pinpointed positive UM attitudes and practices regarding child vaccination in the Polish healthcare system and identified issues for improvement, such as adult vaccination. Health communication should be more tailored within UMs information delivery systems to enable migrants to make informed choices about vaccination. Further research is needed to better assess factors affecting vaccine uptake identified in this study.

StreszczenieRatownicy medyczni poprzez częste i bezpośrednie kontakty z pacjentami narażeni są na ekspozycje na potencjalnie zakaźny materiał biologiczny, co może skutkować zakażeniami zawodowymi. Celem pracy była ocena ryzyka zawodowych zakażeń krwiopochodnych i stosowanych metod prewencji w tej grupie profesjonalnej na podstawie przeglądu piśmiennictwa. Materiał badawczy stanowiły dane z artykułów zgromadzonych w bazach PubMed, Elsevier, Springer i Google Scholar w latach 1987-2017. Dokonano analizy porównawczej danych o ekspozycji zawodowej na krew wśród ratowników medycznych, zgłaszaniu takich zdarzeń i stosowaniu środków ochrony osobistej w poszczególnych państwach w porównaniu z danymi z Polski. Przeprowadzono dotychczas niewiele badań epidemiologicznych związanych z narażeniem zawodowym na krew wśród ratowników medycznych. Porównanie wniosków uzyskanych przez poszczególne zespoły badawcze jest trudne z uwagi na różne sposoby gromadzenia danych. Wpływa to na znaczne zróżnicowanie obserwowanych wyników. Ponadto część publikacji wykazuje błędy metodologiczne, najczęściej stronniczość selekcji. Na świecie odsetek ratowników, którzy ulegli ekspozycji w roku poprzedzającym badanie, waha się od 22% w USA do 63% w Tajlandii. W Polsce analogiczne odsetki oscylują w granicach 14-78%. Choć ta grupa profesjonalistów jest narażona na częsty kontakt z krwią, niemal połowa badanych nie zgłasza ekspozycji zawodowych. Informowanie o takich zdarzeniach jest rzadkie, podobnie jak systematyczne stosowanie środków ochrony osobistej -rękawice ochronne regularnie używa 53-98% badanych, maski i okulary ochronne -33-62%. Zwiększa to ryzyko zakażenia patogenami krwiopochodnymi. Konieczne wydaje się zatem przeprowadzenie dalszych, poprawnych metodologicznie, wieloośrodkowych badań dokładnie oceniających ekspozycje zawodowe na krew wśród ratowników medycznych. Med. Pr. 2018;69(6):685-694 Słowa kluczowe: ekspozycje zawodowe, ratownicy medyczni, ekspozycje na krew, patogeny krwiopochodne, środki ochrony osobistej, zakażenia zawodowe AbstractParamedics constitute a group of professionals who are constantly exposed to potentially infectious biological material through frequent and close contact with patients, possibly resulting in occupationally acquired infections. The paper's objective has been to assess the occupational risk regarding blood-borne infections and identify preventive measures used among paramedics worldwide, on the basis of the related literature review. The literature search, covering the period 1987-2017, was performed using PubMed, Elsevier, Springer and Google Scholar databases. A comparative analysis of blood exposure was conducted and the report of such events and the use of personal protective equipment among paramedics in Poland and other countries worldwide was developed. The data on occupational blood exposures among paramedics is sparse. The resulting comparisons obtained in various scientific studies are difficult due to diverse data collection methods, influencing the resulting consistency. Additionally, the...