In Zaanstad, the vaccination rate among children is plummeting for twelve serious infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, whooping cough and polio. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the critical limit is 90 percent. Zaanstad is far below this with 83.7 percent.
In Wormerland and Oostzaan it is a lot higher at 91 percent and 96.6 percent respectively.
Whooping cough, meningococcus and measles
Fewer and fewer children are being vaccinated in Zaanstad, which is causing concerns. Pediatrician from the Zaans Medical Center (ZMC) Amara Nassar shares these concerns. ‘Unfortunately, we have been seeing these infections more often lately. “Many of these children who have developed these infections have not been vaccinated.” Every day, the pediatricians at the ZMC receive telephone calls from several general practitioners with questions about childhood diseases, especially about whooping cough. Whooping cough is a contagious disease, which is especially dangerous for babies. Several children have already been admitted to the ZMC.
Frequent coughing can cause brain damage due to a lack of oxygen. Sometimes babies with whooping cough don’t cough, but they stop breathing occasionally. This can cause them to turn blue. More than half of babies with whooping cough are admitted to hospital. Very occasionally a baby dies from whooping cough.
Explanation: Diphtheria, Whooping cough, Tetanus and Polio. The vaccination is offered at (2), 3, 5 and 11 months, 4 and 9 years. The vaccination rate is determined at the age of 2 years (basic immune), 5 years (sufficiently protected) and 10 years (completely closed).
Not only whooping cough, other childhood diseases are also becoming more common, such as meningococcal disease and measles. With meningococcal disease you can get meningitis or blood poisoning. The disease can progress very quickly and in many cases be fatal. And measles can also make you very ill. No children with measles have yet been seen in the ZMC, but Amara Nassar expects that this childhood disease will also ‘most likely follow us in the short term’.
Measles can also make you very ill. In severe cases, someone gets pneumonia or brain inflammation. Very occasionally, measles causes an inflammation of the brain that only starts years after the measles. This late form of encephalitis is fatal.
Explanation: Mumps, Measles and Rubella. The vaccination is offered at 14 months and 9 years. The vaccination rate is determined at the age of 2 years (basic immune) and 10 years (completely immune).
Explanation: Meningococcal disease. The vaccination is offered at 14 months and 14 years. The vaccination rate is determined at the age of 2 years (basic immune) and 15 years (completely immune).
Explanation: Cervical cancer caused by the human papillomavirus. The vaccination is offered at 12/13 years. The vaccination rate is determined at the age of 14 years (completely completed).
Less positive about vaccinations
The figures show that Zaanstad has broken through the lower limit of 90 percent. As many as 6.9 percent of children in the Zaan region have not had any vaccinations. According to Amara Nassar, there are several reasons why fewer and fewer children are being vaccinated. One of these is because many infections have become so rare that many parents no longer understand the importance of vaccination. ‘It is also thought that these are harmless childhood diseases, and it is better if the children experience them themselves, because that is better for the immune system.’ Social media and the corona crisis have also had a major influence on the confidence in vaccinations. A 2022 RIVM poll showed that young parents have started to think less positively about vaccinations compared to a 2013 poll.
Explanation: The vaccination rate is determined at the age of 2 years. Distinction between no, partial and full participation in vaccinations according to the National Vaccination Program.
Why is vaccination important?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 9 out of 10 children – the critical limit of 90 percent – must be vaccinated to prevent an outbreak. The RIVM uses a ‘safe vaccination rate’ of at least 95 percent for the Netherlands.
When asked about the importance of vaccination, Amara Nassar explains that vaccination can prevent many life-threatening infections and complications of infections, such as meningitis or blood poisoning, in children. ‘By vaccinating you protect your child against these infections, but also the family and the environment. If many children are vaccinated (a high vaccination rate), infectious diseases such as whooping cough and measles can spread less easily.’ This is due to group protection. Vulnerable people and unvaccinated people also have less chance of becoming ill.
GGD Zaanstreek-Waterland
The vaccination rate is a joint responsibility of the municipalities and the GGD. The GGD Zaanstreek-Waterland has announced that, together with the municipality, they are looking at actions to increase the vaccination rate. During consultations they inform about the importance of vaccination, but the choice remains with the parents. Participation in vaccination is not mandatory, but was taken for granted for a long time. Additional vaccination options and locations are offered, but little use is made of them. It is being investigated whether it is possible to determine the vaccination rate at district level. This allows targeted actions to be taken per district to promote vaccination.
This month, children can again get a vaccination from the GGD. Vaccinations will take place on Tuesday, April 16 in Sports Hall Wormer and on Wednesday, April 17 in Sports Hall De Tref in Zaandam. For more information about the ‘group injection days’, visit website of GGD Zaanstreek-Waterland.
Text: De Orkaan Editorial Team, Source: ZMC, GGD Zaanstreek-Waterland, National Government, RIVM, Photo: Zaanstad Municipal Archives (vaccinations at GGD barracks Frans Halsstraat Zaandam 1986). Graphs: The Hurricane based on GGD data.
2024-04-08 19:30:00
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