Invisible vaccination: GPs sometimes prick the Bible belt behind closed doors

The GGD North and East Gelderland sees the benefit of secret needles in villages such as Nunspeet and Barneveld. According to the GGD, some of the believers do want a vaccine, but without others knowing. They don’t dare to come out because of social pressure.

In a research The health organization writes about the willingness to vaccinate: “It is not useful to have a vaccination bus come to the villages in question. However, it is useful to point out to this target group the possibility of getting a vaccination outside their own place of residence or region.”

It is also an option to get an injection during a regular consultation with your GP. The GGD is in consultation with general practitioners in Orthodox Christian villages about this. “In this way, people can get vaccinated close to home, without the knowledge of the immediate environment.” That consultation is still ongoing, says the GGD.

The vaccination rate in Biblebelt municipalities is lower than in the rest of the Netherlands, but is nevertheless above expectations, said the GGD earlier.

Hardly discussed

This is not the first time that ‘secret’ vaccination has been used in the Bible Belt, says Helma Ruijs of RIVM, who obtained her PhD on vaccination in the Bible Belt. “There have also been such initiatives in the measles epidemic. I don’t know whether it adds much now. Now you can also choose at which GGD location you are vaccinated.”

Pastor Wouter Pieters of the Restored Reformed Municipality of Elspeet is not aware of the vaccination figures in his municipality. “We don’t keep track of that and there is hardly any discussion about it among ourselves. I hardly get any questions about it myself.”

According to him, the people in the municipality have various reasons not to be vaccinated. “One calls the providence, the other doubts the effects of the vaccine.” He does not know whether churchgoers are indeed secretly pricked at the doctor. “And if I did know, it’s not secretive, is it?”

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