Latest news with #RIVM
Euractiv
08-07-2025
- Health
- Euractiv
Anonymous data skewing Dutch vaccine stats, cultural views impacting uptake
Public vaccination registration is being impacted by a rise in anonymous data reporting and a decline in vaccination rates in specific demographics, the Dutch Public Health Institute (RIVM) told Euractiv. In its 2025 report on Dutch vaccination rates, the RIVM found that the vaccination rate in infants and toddlers as part of the national immunisation programme decreased compared to the previous year, while the vaccination rate against HPV has risen. However, the institute says it has not been able to provide exact vaccination rates for several years. Since 2022, people have been allowed to decline sharing information, including dates of birth, concerning themselves or their children. This means that the registered vaccination coverage is slightly lower than the actual coverage. A spokesperson for the RIVM told Euractiv, 'The government will evaluate and discuss the need to change this current opt-in approach to an opt-out approach. Clarity on this issue will follow around Q3-4 in 2025.' They said that while the data may not be as accurate as that from pre-2022 levels, the anonymous portion of the data is as low as 2-3%. The institute was still able to draw several insights from its data. In its report, the RIVM noted that the strongest decrease in vaccination coverage was seen among Dutch children with a Moroccan or Turkish migration background, children who do not attend formal childcare, and those from large families with four or more children. The RIVM's spokesperson said there is a need to update the institute's communication materials and improve how professionals are trained to address the issue. The institute is collaborating with healthcare workers, community representatives, and municipal communication experts to reach underserved groups more effectively. Declining vaccination coverage In the Netherlands, the national immunisation programme aims to protect children from 13 infectious diseases through several vaccines starting from birth. The RIVM says that when vaccination coverage declines, outbreaks of these diseases happen more frequently. The type of primary school children attend in the Netherlands also has an effect on their vaccination rate, the RIVM said. It found that the vaccination rate decreased sharply at Islamic schools and has been relatively low for a long time at orthodox Protestant and anthroposophical schools. 'At these schools, there is a greater chance that groups of children (clusters) will get measles,' the RIVM said in its report. HPV vaccine coverage increases For the increase in HPV vaccine coverage, the RIVM found that it was higher among boys than among girls. The difference in coverage between them was less significant compared to 2024. 'The HPV catch-up campaigns may have had a positive impact here,' the RIVM said, referring to the campaigns to invite young people aged 26 and under to get vaccinated against HPV. The RIVM noted that a high number of cases of whooping cough were reported in 2024, along with cases of measles and mumps. People who fell ill abroad were infecting others upon their return to the Netherlands. This was particularly evident with measles, due to the higher number of measles cases abroad. The RIVM reported that it's no longer possible to determine whether the Netherlands is reaching a national vaccination rate of 90% for all individual vaccinations in line with WHO objectives due to informed consent requirements leading to under-reporting. However, it said it is clear that the Netherlands is not meeting the WHO standard of 9% for the MMR vaccine. The RIVM says there are several initiatives the Netherlands is pursuing to combat vaccine refusal and hesitancy, including hosting online pages with information as well as running dedicated phone lines. 'The 'Twijfeltelefoon' (doubts hotline) is an initiative by doctors from the Erasmus University Hospital of Rotterdam. The students who answer questions have access to our training materials. They are called 30 times a day,' the RIVM's spokesperson said. 'Remarkably, most of the questions are about the planning of appointments.' [Edited by Vasiliki Angouridi, Brian Maguire]
Russia Today
03-07-2025
- Health
- Russia Today
Every Dutch person has ‘forever chemicals' in their blood
Every person in the Netherlands has so-called 'forever chemicals' in their blood, often at levels above health safety limits, according to the findings of the first nationwide study on the issue in an EU country, published on Thursday. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of human-made chemicals used in products like plastic food wrappers, non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, cleaning agents, and personal care items. Due to their durability, they break down extremely slowly and can persist in the environment and living organisms for years, hence the nickname 'forever chemicals.' The survey published on Thursday by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), found that 'Everyone in the Netherlands has different types of PFAS in the blood. In almost everyone, the amount of PFAS is higher than the health limit value.' Human exposure typically occurs through contaminated food, drinking water, household products, air, and soil. Studies have linked certain PFAS compounds to health issues such as high cholesterol, infertility, kidney problems, and some cancers. Though their presence does not guarantee illness, the chemicals may impair the immune system, with the severity of effects depending on the level and duration of exposure, as well as individual health conditions, the institute noted. The study analyzed around 1,500 blood samples collected between 2016 and 2017, and RIVM confirmed it is currently examining samples from 2025 to assess recent exposure trends. While PFAS are known for persisting in the body, they can gradually disappear over time, the institute noted, stressing the need to reduce daily intake. Similar studies have been conducted in the US, Canada, and Australia, revealing widespread exposure across various populations.
Ya Biladi
03-07-2025
- Health
- 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.
Ya Biladi
03-04-2025
- Health
- Ya Biladi
Measles spread in Amsterdam prompts travel advisory for families going to Morocco
Health authorities in Amsterdam are ramping up efforts to warn families traveling to Morocco for the May holiday amid a significant measles outbreak in the country, reported De Telegraaf on Wednesday. The number of measles cases in the city's Nieuw-West district has risen from 20 to 32 in the past week, with infections now spreading beyond the initial outbreak at a primary school. Amsterdam Alderman for Health, Alexander Scholtes, expressed deep concern over the growing number of cases, particularly as four children have been hospitalized. Investigations revealed that none of the infected children had been vaccinated against measles. The outbreak in Nieuw-West is believed to have originated after an older sibling contracted measles while abroad, highlighting the risk of international travel in spreading the disease. Given the ongoing outbreak in Morocco, the municipality has launched an awareness campaign urging families to vaccinate their children before traveling. Authorities have also extended this advice to travelers heading to Romania, another country experiencing a surge in measles cases. «With the city's vaccination rate, it was never a question of if there would be a measles outbreak, but when. That time has now come», Scholtes stated. In response to the rising cases, some local officials have proposed more proactive vaccination strategies, such as deploying mobile vaccination units in neighborhoods, similar to efforts in Rotterdam. Last week in Rotterdam, a measles outbreak at an Islamic primary school was reported after a student's visit to Morocco during the spring break. 50 students reported sick by early this week, prompting its closure. To combat the spread, a special vaccination drive was organized. This is not the first time recent measles cases in the Netherlands have been linked to Morocco. Earlier in March, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) reported that 17 measles infections have traced back to Morocco. Similar trends have also been observed in France, Spain, and Belgium.
Ya Biladi
02-04-2025
- Health
- Ya Biladi
Measles spread in Amsterdam prompts travel advisory for families going to Morocco
Health authorities in Amsterdam are ramping up efforts to warn families traveling to Morocco for the May holiday amid a significant measles outbreak in the country, reported De Telegraaf on Wednesday. The number of measles cases in the city's Nieuw-West district has risen from 20 to 32 in the past week, with infections now spreading beyond the initial outbreak at a primary school. Amsterdam Alderman for Health, Alexander Scholtes, expressed deep concern over the growing number of cases, particularly as four children have been hospitalized. Investigations revealed that none of the infected children had been vaccinated against measles. The outbreak in Nieuw-West is believed to have originated after an older sibling contracted measles while abroad, highlighting the risk of international travel in spreading the disease. Given the ongoing outbreak in Morocco, the municipality has launched an awareness campaign urging families to vaccinate their children before traveling. Authorities have also extended this advice to travelers heading to Romania, another country experiencing a surge in measles cases. «With the city's vaccination rate, it was never a question of if there would be a measles outbreak, but when. That time has now come», Scholtes stated. In response to the rising cases, some local officials have proposed more proactive vaccination strategies, such as deploying mobile vaccination units in neighborhoods, similar to efforts in Rotterdam. Last week in Rotterdam, a measles outbreak at an Islamic primary school was reported after a student's visit to Morocco during the spring break. 50 students reported sick by early this week, prompting its closure. To combat the spread, a special vaccination drive was organized. This is not the first time recent measles cases in the Netherlands have been linked to Morocco. Earlier in March, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) reported that 17 measles infections have traced back to Morocco.
