Measles : Dutch health officials sound alarm over low vaccination rates among Moroccan families
In a recent report, RIVM stated that since 2013, vaccination coverage among children of Moroccan background has dropped significantly, from 95% to 65%. A similar trend has been observed among Turkish parents in the Netherlands, with coverage among children of Turkish background falling from 96% to 79%.
This decline has resulted in more than 100 hospitalizations, mostly involving unvaccinated children, and a total of 437 confirmed measles cases so far this year, more than double last year's figure of 204. Experts stress that a vaccination rate above 95% is necessary to prevent outbreaks.
The trend is especially pronounced in urban areas with large Moroccan and Turkish populations, such as The Hague, where some neighborhoods report coverage as low as 60%. According to Hilbert Bredemeijer, The Hague's Alderman for Education, Youth, Sports, and Services, growing distrust in government, misinformation, language barriers, and peer pressure are key factors driving vaccine hesitancy.
Moroccan families are of particular concern, as Morocco itself has seen a sharp rise in measles cases, prompting a national vaccination campaign. The country has reported 20,000 cases over the past year and a half.
In the Netherlands, many measles cases have been linked to infections imported from Morocco.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Biladi
2 days ago
- Ya Biladi
Measles : Dutch health officials sound alarm over low vaccination rates among Moroccan families
The Dutch National Institute for Public Health (RIVM) has raised the alarm over declining vaccination rates among Moroccan parents living in the Netherlands, contributing to a concerning rise in measles cases. In a recent report, RIVM stated that since 2013, vaccination coverage among children of Moroccan background has dropped significantly, from 95% to 65%. A similar trend has been observed among Turkish parents in the Netherlands, with coverage among children of Turkish background falling from 96% to 79%. This decline has resulted in more than 100 hospitalizations, mostly involving unvaccinated children, and a total of 437 confirmed measles cases so far this year, more than double last year's figure of 204. Experts stress that a vaccination rate above 95% is necessary to prevent outbreaks. The trend is especially pronounced in urban areas with large Moroccan and Turkish populations, such as The Hague, where some neighborhoods report coverage as low as 60%. According to Hilbert Bredemeijer, The Hague's Alderman for Education, Youth, Sports, and Services, growing distrust in government, misinformation, language barriers, and peer pressure are key factors driving vaccine hesitancy. Moroccan families are of particular concern, as Morocco itself has seen a sharp rise in measles cases, prompting a national vaccination campaign. The country has reported 20,000 cases over the past year and a half. In the Netherlands, many measles cases have been linked to infections imported from Morocco.
Morocco World
27-06-2025
- Morocco World
Moroccan Biologist Jinane Zouaki Joins Ibero-American Academy of Pharmacy
Rabat – Moroccan biologist Jinane Zouaki has been appointed as an academic corresponding member of the Ibero-American Academy of Pharmacy. Her appointment marks a big milestone, as she is the first Moroccan, Arab, and African woman to receive this honor. The official ceremony took place on Tuesday at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Granada, Spain. The event gathered many scientists from Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and Morocco. In her speech to the academy, Zouaki spoke about her history of pharmacy in Morocco. She outlined the country's recent efforts to strengthen its health sovereignty under the leadership of King Mohammed VI. She explained that this national strategy has helped Morocco become a leading industrial hub and a strong, competitive player in both regional and international healthcare sectors. Speaking to Morocco's state news agency MAP, Zouaki shared her pride and gratitude for joining such a prestigious institution. She said the recognition is not only a personal achievement, but also a proud moment for Moroccan women and for the country as a whole. This recognition contributes to Morocco's scientific presence on the international stage, she added. Originally from the northern city of Tetouan, Zouaki holds a doctorate in pharmacy. In 2022, she became the first Moroccan and African to receive the Medal of Privilege from the University of Granada, a high honor that celebrates her long journey in education and biomedical research. Zouaki also made history as the first Moroccan to join the Royal Academy of Pharmacy of Catalonia. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she volunteered to help medical teams. At her molecular biology lab in Saniat Rmel Hospital in Tetouan, she worked on COVID-19 testing and helped train healthcare workers. Tags: HealthMoroccopharmacy
Morocco World
23-06-2025
- Morocco World
UM6P Partners with ANRAC to Boost Medical Cannabis Research in Morocco
Rabat – The Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) and the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis-Related Activities (ANRAC) have signed a partnership agreement to work together on research into the medical and pharmaceutical uses of cannabis in Morocco. This collaboration will focus on scientific research using tested medical methods to study how cannabis can be used to treat health problems, UM6P said in a press release. The goal is to better understand the active compounds in cannabis and how they might help treat certain illnesses safely and effectively. The researchers will use tools like laboratory testing, computer modeling, and data analysis to learn more about how cannabis might work in medical treatments. They will follow strict health and safety rules throughout the research, added the statement. The agreement also includes plans to share research results with professionals in the health, pharmacy, and clinical research sectors. This is to ensure that any scientific discoveries can be used in real-life treatments under proper supervision. In addition to research, the partnership will offer training programs for doctors, pharmacists, researchers, and other healthcare professionals. These courses will teach about how cannabis works in the body, the legal rules for using it, and how to include cannabis-based treatments in patient care. A separate agreement was also signed with the African Genome Center at UM6P to support a special project on studying the local cannabis variety called 'Beldia' using advanced genetic tools. The aim is to understand this local plant better and make sure it is protected and traceable. This entire initiative is part of a bigger plan to build strong scientific knowledge about medical cannabis in Morocco. It brings together science, health care, legal standards, and ethics to develop safe and well-regulated medical uses for cannabis in the country, concluded the statement. In recent years, Morocco has undertaken several regulatory reforms to transition its long-standing cannabis economy toward a legal, controlled system. In 2021, the Moroccan parliament passed a law permitting the cultivation of cannabis strictly for medical, cosmetic, and industrial purposes. To enforce this, the government established the ANRAC, tasked with licensing farmers, processing facilities, exporters, and controlling THC thresholds, seed certification, traceability, and security across approved zones in the Rif region. Between 2022 and 2024, ANRAC issued thousands of licenses covering cultivation on more than 2,700 hectares, with legal production topping 4,000 tonnes. To incentivize transition, King Mohammed VI in August 2024 pardoned nearly 4,800 farmers convicted of illicit cannabis cultivation and helped them access the legal market.
