“It was a moving moment for everyone,” his supervisor told RTL Nieuws. Fred has a mental handicap and has been living in a residential group of the disabled institution ‘s Heeren Loo for years, says Nanda Troost.
Yesterday was the day: under the watchful eye of Hugo de Jonge, Fred was vaccinated with about 300 other residents at the daytime activities in Monster.
Party for Fred
“We prepared the residents as well as possible for what was to come. Fred too. Everyone was a bit tense,” says Nanda, who was at the injection moment.
Fred had to wait for a while for fellow resident Jochem. “That was allowed first. Fred thought it was exciting, but was also very happy. He saw it as a party.”
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The institution had clearly drawn up protocols and a tight organization. “Everything was very well organized”, says Nanda. But when Fred was allowed in and saw the minister, he could not restrain himself. He walked over to the minister for a hug.
“Nobody saw this coming. But we looked at each other and everyone knew: we had to and could not stop this. And the minister too sensed that very well. He did that very spontaneously and well.”
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The residents are prepared with pictograms and pictures. “And in many residential groups, the residents watch the press conferences with Minister De Jonge and Prime Minister Rutte. Many also know De Jonge from TV, and know that he is for Feyenoord, for example.”
Keeping a distance of a meter and a half and not cuddling is an impossible task for many people with intellectual disabilities. “These people cannot express themselves in words. A hug or a touch is all they have. Some of them sit on your lap all day. They don’t understand corona and the consequences. And you can’t blame these people. We they shouldn’t take that away. “
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Party to be with
Fred’s meeting also made an impression on Minister De Jonge. He shared the photo on his Instagram channel with the text: “He walked up to me with determined steps and before I knew it, I had a big hug from Fred.” De Jonge called the injection moment ‘a party to be able to attend’.
The minister did not lack attention. “Our other resident, Jochem, knew that the minister loves football very much. Jochem is for Ajax and the minister for Feyenoord. They had a very nice conversation with each other.”
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It is difficult to say exactly whether the residents understand vaccination. “Many of our residents find the injection a bit exciting. That is why we take a carer or family member with us during the injection. And we sing a song as a distraction, for example.”
Some residents are a bit panicky or have to cry. But most are often very happy too. “Then prick corona, they say.”
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