Špela Žnidaršič Reljič
Služba za zdravstveno varstvo šolskih otrok in mladine, Zdravstveni dom dr. Adolfa Drolca Maribor, Maribor, Slovenija

Andreja Borinc Beden
Zasebna pediatrična ordinacija, Mengeš, Slovenija

Anita Jagrič Friškovec
Zdravstveni dom Celje, Celje, Slovenija

Denis Baš
Služba za zdravstveno varstvo otrok in žensk, Zdravstveni dom dr. Julija Polca, Kamnik, Slovenija

Abstract

The COVID -19 epidemic severely affected the organisation and functioning of the health care system, so we had to adapt to new processes of health care in order to prevent the spread of infections. During the epidemic primary pediatricians and school doctors successfully continued to carry out preventive health care of children and adolescents, which was crucial to maintain high vaccination rates against childhood infectious diseases and monitoring the physical and mental health of children and adolescents. The preschool vaccination coverage for all mandatory and some recommended vaccinations has even increased in the first year of epidemic compared to previous years. The school population of children and adolescents was also the most disadvantaged in terms of screening and immunization.

Key words: COVID-19 epidemic, preventive health care, vaccination, children, adolescents, primary pediatricians, school doctors