The provincial governor of Pomerania, north Poland, has passed down fines to eight parents who failed to provide compulsory vaccinations for their children.

The parents in question now have to pay PLN 2,500 after regional sanitary inspectors found that a number of children had not received the shots.

However, Spokesman for the Pomeranian governor, Roman Nowak told Polish Radio that the fines are not a penalty as such, but a way to get parents to vaccinate their children.

“If [the parents] will get their children vaccinated within a given timeframe then the fine will be annuled,” Nowak said.

These are the first fines of this type issued this year, and follow on from reports that more and more parents are deciding to opt against inoculating their children despite a growing number of cases of measles.

Last year, 12,000 Polish children did not receive the measles vaccination, resulting in a steadily increasing number of cases.

“The governor is not discounting a greater number of fines for parents,” Nowak said, adding that around 90 cases are currently under review.

The fine for not providing compulsory vaccinations for children in Poland can reach a maximum of PLN 10,000 (around EUR 2,400), and can be handed down a maximum of five times.

If parents do not agree to pay the fine, they may take up the issue with the Health Ministry and, if necessary, the Administrative Courts. (jb)