Fewer Utrecht children were vaccinated; Especially Overvecht and Kanaleiland are far behind

Fewer children in Utrecht were vaccinated against infectious diseases last year. This concerns, for example, vaccinations against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus, all of which are part of the national immunization programme. In addition, there is a difference between districts in the city. For example, the vaccination rate in Overvecht and Kanaleneiland is lower than in other regions and boroughs.

The municipality describes the low vaccination coverage as “not good news” and says it is “particularly worrying” that participation in the national immunization program is not evenly distributed in Utrecht.

“A high vaccination rate protects children from dangerous infectious diseases and protects groups from outbreaks of infectious diseases.” Perhaps the decline is due to the Corona crisis. As a result, some vaccinations were given later.

Preparation

The figures for Utrecht come from the RIVM. There you can read, among other things, that 91 percent of children by the age of two have had all vaccinations from the National Immunization Programme. A year ago that was 93.3 percent.

Vaccination coverage among 10-year-olds against mumps, measles and rubella decreased from 89.4 to 88.5 percent. The proportion of 14-year-old girls in Utrecht who had been vaccinated against HPV decreased from 60.9 per cent to 57.4 per cent.

alive

The municipality also sees a difference in vaccination coverage between regions. For example, the rate of most vaccinations in Overvecht and Kanaleneiland is lower than in other regions of Utrecht. On the other hand, Vleuten-de Meern and Noordoost are neighborhoods where the average vaccination rate is higher. “This is likely to be related to the background of residents in these neighbourhoods,” it read in a letter to the council.

The municipality will take action because of this difference. For example, discussions are held with parents, professionals and other ‘key figures’ about vaccination. “Based on the neighborhood approach, we are looking at whether a restart of the vaccination coalition is also necessary and how we can shape it.”

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