Introduction. Prophylactic vaccination is the most effective method of preventing contagious diseases. The larger the number of vaccinated ones, the higher the population immunity. Thanks to the introduction of recommended and highly combined vaccinations, children may be made immune to a larger number of contagious diseases. The vaccination depends on the decision of the parents. Aim. The object of the research was the assessment of the influence of the selected social and demographic factors on the knowledge of recommended and highly combined vaccinations for children up to the third year of age as well as attitudes towards the vaccinations among the parents residing in Andrychów. Material and methods. The research covered a group of 100 parents of children of up to the third year of age. A proprietary questionnaire was used in the research. Results. Most parents decide to purchase highly combined vaccines, 41% chose a pentavalent vaccine, and 25% a hexavalent one. The positive attitude to recommended vaccinations was expressed by 60% of the respondents. The vaccines most frequently selected were ones against rotavirus infections (57%), pneumococcal diseases (57%) and meningococcal diseases (31%). The parents of particularly exposed children gladly availed of the refunded pentavalent vaccination and vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Conclusions. 1) Education, financial standing of the family or the number of children possessed have no significant influence on the decision of the parents to buy the recommended vaccines. 2) Most parents deciding to buy the recommended vaccines also decide to buy combined vaccines. 3)The main reasons for resignation from the recommended and combined vaccines include: lack of conviction as to the effectiveness of the vaccination, fear of side effects, high price of the preparation, and prejudice against making multiple injections in children during one vaccination visit.

Key words: child, parents, vaccination.