Fewer and fewer parents have their children vaccinated against mumps, measles, rubella, polio, whooping cough and other diseases that are part of the National Immunization Programme. This is a decrease of 1 to 2 percentage points, according to the report ‘Vaccination rate and annual National Vaccination Program 2021’ that will be published on Monday.
The decrease does not immediately sound alarming, but according to Jeanne-Marie Hament, National Vaccinations Program Manager at RIVM, it is important to raise the vaccination rate again. “We would rather see it rise than fall. For example, look at measles. According to the World Health Organisation, a coverage ratio of 95 percent is required for this. In the Netherlands we are now below 92 percent.”
Measles seems harmless at first, but when many children get it, according to Hament, there are often deaths among them. “In recent years, we have been well on our way to eradicating measles, but because many vaccination programs worldwide have stopped during the corona pandemic, we are seeing diseases, including measles, return.”
Polio also returns
Polio is another example of a disease that returns. Not yet in the Netherlands, but in Ukraine, Africa and the Middle East. “Actually, there are no limits for infectious diseases. Although it is of course important that every country has its vaccination program in order,” says Hament.
The vaccination coverage of almost all RVP vaccinations is slightly lower than a year earlier. This was partly because some vaccinations were given later than usual due to the corona epidemic. For example, group vaccinations have been postponed. Also appointments for a vaccination sometimes had to be rescheduled if a parent or child had to be in isolation.
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But if the vaccinations that were given a little later than normal are included, the vaccination coverage for most vaccinations is still slightly lower than a year earlier. For babies up to 2 years old, the difference is still about 1 percentage point. For older children this is 1-2 percentage points.