The vaccination of the elderly is faltering, says chairman Leo Bisschops of the KBO Brabant. “It is not the case that the elderly do not want to be vaccinated, but it is made difficult for them, which makes them drop out. That is very unfortunate,” he said on Sunday in talk show KRAAK from Omroep Brabant. At least 30 percent of the elderly now ignore the vaccination and that is a higher percentage than with vaccinations for other diseases.
The first hurdle that the elderly must overcome is the confusing reporting about vaccinations. “As long as corona is still called a severe flu by some or doubts the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine, that does not stimulate the need for vaccinations,” says the chairman of the Catholic Association for the Elderly.
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In addition, the logistics of making an appointment are unnecessarily complicated. “There must be smoother cooperation between the national registration point as soon as you receive a call to vaccinate and the local injection sites”, the chairman explains. “Now people are told that they have to travel some time because there is no place in the neighborhood, while there is room. People have to travel because of this, while this is not necessary if the communication is better organized nationally and regionally.”
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To set a good example Leo was filmed while he was vaccinated. “I did not suffer from anything. It did not hurt. I hope this will give confidence that vaccination is for a good cause. The elderly are particularly vulnerable when they become ill from corona.”
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In addition to trust, planning is also important according to the senior citizen. “I have piles of mail from elderly people who drop out because it is such a hassle. They have no one to transport them or because of their disability they have to be taken by ambulance to the vaccination point.”
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The height of annoyance he finds the telephone conversation he was with. The RIVM said that there was no place in Den Bosch. A relative of the calling elder was also there. This family member works at the GGD Den Bosch and was sure that there was room. “The lines must be shorter because this creates unnecessary hassle.”
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Nationally, the willingness to vaccinate is 77%, with the willingness increasing as people get older. That more than 30% of the elderly are now dropping out is therefore remarkable. Leo Bisschops therefore has weekly consultations with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport to minimize obstacles for the elderly. “I have proposed to give the elderly a special telephone number on which they can make an appointment in the area. Those who call with this number will then have priority. I will hear next week whether this number will be available.”
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