The Hague raises awareness about the importance of immunisation with Vaccination Week

It is a first for the Netherlands

The first-ever Vaccination Week in the Netherlands will take place in The Hague from 7 to 11 September 2020, announced the local authority on its website. The objective: raise awareness about the importance of vaccination and boost its levels above the safety bar.

Making informed choices about vaccines

In the Hague, less than 90% of all children have been vaccinated which is considered insufficient for the protection of everyone. In order to raise the levels to the safe 95% of all children, The Hague will be holding the vaccination week. The initiative is of the Municipality of The Hague, the Public health department (GGD Haaglanden) and the Youth & Family Centre (CJG). The topic: For yourself, for each other.

The 5-day program includes, among other things, a consultation hour via Facebook, information meetings for mothers, fathers and pedagogical staff and a pizza session with young people where they discuss the importance of vaccine with doctors. On a separate occasion, young people will be invited to get their 1st (or forgotten) vaccinations.

For the vaccination week, the Dutch city is launching a new magazine with the title 'The Hague vaccinates'. It is filled with practical information highlighting all aspects of vaccination and is published in 10,000 copies. Parents will receive it for free during their visit to the CJG and it will also be placed in the waiting rooms of GPs.

The authorities want to remind locals that every child below 18 can benefit from the national vaccination programme free of charge. Although vaccinations are voluntary, "vaccination is the norm and are a joint responsibility," according to councillor Kavita Parbhudayal quoted on the municipal website.

Vaccination is widely accepted in Europe today and has been a highly successful tool to eradicate some diseases, as pointed out by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Others diseases, like measles, are expected to be eliminated soon, but only through a rigorous vaccination process could this be possible.

Immunisation programmes, however, are endangered by insufficient information, by unsupported claims about adverse effects, or by groups that, for religious or other reasons, stand against vaccines. In this context, communication campaigns such as the Vaccination Week in The Hague where the correct scientific facts are given centre stage are essential to help enable both policymakers and the public to make an informed choice.