However, Neven does not panic yet. The so-called local actions, such as in schools, at shops and by companies, should really come under steam in the coming weeks and lead to a rise in the Brussels vaccination rate. There is still a lot of work to be done, especially among the youngest, between 12 and 17: 28 pc of young people in Brussels have already received a first injection, compared to 80 pc in Flanders.
In order to reach these young people, the main focus is currently on raising awareness. As is already happening in Flanders, the GGC also plans to vaccinate in schools. “But we have already learned to raise awareness first, then vaccinate,” says Neven. “There is still a fairly big barrier to overcome.” Next week the first pilot projects will start with injections in schools, to really start the following week.
There is still a communication campaign, with posters and on social media, and communication kits are also provided to municipal authorities, schools. The GGC also organizes Q&A sessions with experts. “On Monday there was another webinar with 150 participants from French-speaking secondary education”, Neven explains. “All possible questions about the impact of the vaccines on DNA, sports and fertility were discussed.”
Raising awareness will take time, Neven acknowledges. “We have to take that time so as not to snub people. We have to give the population the right information, by scientifically trained people, and let them ask questions. We’re not going to get there overnight.” Whether there should be a corona pass? “That is a question for the political level,” says Neven.
In the past week there has already been less injection in the four Brussels vaccination centers that remain, while the number of injections through the local actions did increase. “We need to further investigate the explanation for this, so that we can record an increase there too,” said Neven. “Maybe the new school year will play a role here.”
On Monday it became known that 800 people were vaccinated in or near shops such as Carrefour and Ikea. “That’s a good figure, although we might have hoped it would be a little more,” says Neven. “Here too, we are looking at how we can increase this further.” Those retail vaccinations normally continue throughout the month.
This week and next, bpost, NMBS, Infrabel and STIB will start with vaccinations at work. Another communication campaign on vaccinations will soon be launched on public transport. A vaccination antenna will be opened in Brussels Central on September 14. Antennas will also be opened in several other places in the coming days.
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