Decline in Childhood Vaccinations in The Hague Sparks Concerns of Disease Outbreaks

A report from the GGD Haaglanden, which was released on Thursday, shows that the number of vaccinated children has decreased by ten percent in the past year. A worrying development, according to councilor Hilbert Bredemeijer (CDA, youth). “If we don’t stop this nosedive in vaccination rates, an outbreak is a major risk that could put children in the hospital.” On Friday it was also announced that there have been outbreaks of whooping cough in the Netherlands and that four babies have now died from this disease.

‘Advisory degree’

The GGD report contains figures about vaccinations from the National Vaccination Program (RVP), which has been protecting Dutch citizens against various serious infectious diseases since 1957. In order to do this as well as possible, a general vaccination rate (‘recommended rate’) of ninety percent is important. But this target figure has not been achieved in any of the neighborhoods in The Hague. The Vruchtenbuurt, Kraayenstein and the Uithof come closest, with an average vaccination rate of 85 to 90 percent.

The Escamp, Centrum and Laak districts still have the lowest average vaccination rate. The percentage there has fallen to below 75. The Zeeheldenkwartier, which is atypical in the center because it is relatively prosperous, shares in this malaise. But neighborhoods such as Bezuidenhout and Regentessekwartier also have a vaccination rate of only around 75 percent. With vaccines against, for example, mumps, measles and rubella (MMR), the decline is greatest among schoolchildren. In Laak, the vaccination rate has even dropped to below 65 percent.

According to the GGD, the low vaccination rate in these neighborhoods can partly be explained by the large proportion of residents with a migration background. Previous analyzes by the RIVM showed that they are less likely to be vaccinated compared to people without a migration background. A similar pattern is visible in the other G4 cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht).

Trend

Furthermore, it appears that the vaccination rate decreases as children get older. For example, the percentage of vaccinated infants is around 85 percent, while the vaccination rate among adolescents has fallen to below 70 percent. The HPV vaccination, which protects against six forms of cancer, including cervical cancer, is even obtained by less than half of all girls.

It is not only the municipality of The Hague that is struggling with a declining vaccination rate. The conclusions of the Haaglanden Municipal Health Service fit with a national trend that also occurs in other Western countries. ‘The spread of (dis)information during the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination fatigue due to the extra COVID-19 vaccinations and confusion about the moment to be able to vaccinate due to extra vaccination moments surrounding COVID-19 vaccinations’ are mentioned by the RIVM as possible , underlying causes.

Measures

The municipality of The Hague has announced that it will take additional measures to encourage vaccination. Children can receive vaccines at all nine locations of the Center for Youth and Family (CJG). In addition, additional information and a district-oriented approach are being used. The councilor also appeals to the population. “Although vaccination is a voluntary choice, everyone has a responsibility to protect all children against diseases. Together we can suppress these diseases and make them a thing of the past,” he says.

2024-03-15 20:25:28
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