Vaccination coverage among Flemish babies appears to be stabilizing after a downward trend that started in 2017. Willingness is also high in West Flanders: in the first half of 2022, at least 90 percent of all babies born between January and June received a of the five free basic vaccines
Stay alert
The vaccination coverage of West Flemish babies and toddlers is structurally slightly higher than the Flemish average in every area. In 2021, the average vaccination coverage in our province was 89.7 percent, at the Flemish level it was 88.3 percent. In the first half of 2022, the difference narrowed slightly, mainly due to a decrease on our side.
“Especially at such a vulnerable age, it is crucial that children are protected against these diseases”
At least 90 percent of babies born between January and June in our province last year received at least one dose of all vaccines recommended by Kind & Gezin during their first year of life, in Flanders that was 88.4 percent. Five years ago, this minimum percentage was still 91.6 percent, but the decline in recent years was a cause for concern.
“Although the decrease may be due to the fact that vaccines administered by external doctors are not always well registered, it is still important to be alert and to keep motivating parents to follow the free primary vaccination program for children. Especially at such a vulnerable age, it is crucial that children are protected,” says Niels Heselmans, spokesperson for Growing Up.
Protected against polio
There are some differences within that vaccination program. The hexavalent vaccine is leading, no less than 94 percent of all children born in the first half of 2022 in our province received the first dose. However, three doses are required to provide optimal protection against polio, diphtheria, tetanus and hepatitis B, among others, and 91.8 percent of all newborns in that age group also received them. These figures are slightly higher for toddlers born in 2021.
The vaccine against polio is the only one that is mandatory in our country, in addition to the two doses in the first year of life, another dose must also be administered in the second year of life. The fourth dose is no longer mandatory. More than 95 in 100 babies born in 2020 completed the full polio schedule.
Finally, the first pneumococcal vaccine was administered to approximately 93.7 percent of babies in the first half of 2022. The paying vaccine against the rotavirus protects 84.5 percent of the target group.