The vaccination rate for various infectious diseases in several Dutch regions is below the World Health Organization (WHO) standard. The GGD (Municipal Health Service) says that infectious disease control is under pressure and is sounding the alarm.
The annual Vaccination Rate Report from the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) reveals that the vaccination rate was substandard in several regions last year. The vaccination rate has particularly decreased in Islamic schools and among Dutch children of Moroccan or Turkish origin in recent years.
The vaccination rate also decreased among children who do not attend childcare and children from families of four or more children. In addition, the vaccination rate remains substandard among students of orthodox-Protestant and anthroposophical schools.
With a vaccination rate that is too low, the risk of outbreaks of infectious diseases increases, reports the GGD GHOR, the umbrella organization of all GGDs in the Netherlands. Such outbreaks have become more frequent in recent years. The umbrella organization points to large outbreaks of whooping cough and the large clusters of measles in the past two years.
The GGD has the task of preventing and controlling outbreaks. The GGD GHOR is concerned that fewer and fewer children are receiving the vaccinations from the National Vaccination Program. “The entire infectious disease control is under pressure,” says director Ton Coenen. “Outbreaks can barely be contained.”
Coenen says that the GGDs structurally have too little money to cope with outbreaks of infectious diseases. The GGD GHOR is therefore sounding the alarm: only with structurally better resources can the Netherlands be protected against outbreaks of infectious diseases and pandemics.
Vaccination rate for HPV is increasing
The RIVM report also shows that the vaccination rate for HPV (human papillomavirus) is clearly increasing. Children receive this vaccination when they are around ten years old. The increase is especially visible among boys. Vaccination campaigns for HPV may play a role.
Furthermore, slightly more pregnant women seem to be getting vaccinated against whooping cough and the flu, reports the RIVM.
In the Netherlands, children receive vaccinations against thirteen infectious diseases that can be severe. By far, most children participate in the National Vaccination Program from birth. A high vaccination rate is important to continue to protect people against serious diseases.