Zeeland concerned about low vaccination rates

The Province of Zeeland has major concerns about the low vaccination rate in the province and want municipalities, GGD, and youth health care (JGZ) to be informed of this. The Provincial Council also wants to ask the implementing authorities about the current status of vaccinations and the actions aimed at increasing the vaccination rate.

The majority of the Provincial Council supported a motion on Friday in which BBB, Christian Union, VVD, D66, and CDA asked for more attention to the number of vaccinations, which are on the decline. With a vaccination rate of 74.8 percent, Zeeland is far below the national average, according to the authors of the motion. They also discussed the risks to public health of low vaccination rates and referred to recent outbreaks of measles and whooping cough. "Suffering must be prevented as much as possible," said D66 faction leader Wouter Versluijs.

Deputy Harry van der Maas (liveability) said vaccinations are not the province's responsibility. He explained that this responsibility partly lies with the municipalities and that they perform their tasks well. "As a province, we do not have to add anything to the work that others are doing, but I could easily transfer the concerns about the vaccination rate to the executive authorities. I do not want to avoid that." Van der Maas also emphasized the importance of providing good information about vaccination so that everyone can make a good decision for themselves.

At the end of December, State Secretary Maarten van Ooijen (Public Health) had already expressed his concerns about the declining vaccination rate among children in Zeeland and other provinces. He then said that the GGD and the Zeeland municipalities should see how they can persuade people to vaccinate their children.

In the past, people from reformed communities were mainly opposed to vaccinations for reasons of principle. People have also spoken out against vaccination in recent years because they have lost confidence in the government.