Credit score: CC0 Public Area
Within the Netherlands, the Nationwide Immunization Programme (NIP) was established in 1957. This program offers free and voluntary vaccinations towards 13 critical infectious ailments and has drastically decreased youngster and younger grownup mortality throughout the nation. Nevertheless, current tendencies present a decline in vaccination protection, notably for the diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis and inactivated poliovirus vaccine (DTaP-IPV) and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccines.
Whereas 95% of Dutch kids born between 2008 and 2010 obtained vaccines towards MMR and DTaP, protection dropped successively over time, and solely 88–89% of kids born within the Netherlands in 2020 have been vaccinated.
Of their research revealed in Eurosurveillance, Joyce Pijpers and colleagues recognized a number of sociodemographic elements contributing to the noticed decline in vaccination charges, together with decrease parental training, revenue, and migration background of oldsters. The retrospective cohort research used a number of knowledge sources taking a look at greater than 2.3 million kids born between 2008 and 2020, a complete of two,323,838 kids for MMR and a couple of,331,199 for DTaP-IPV.
By the age of two years, 94% of kids (2,174,229) had obtained the MMR vaccine, and 93% (2,172,402) had obtained the DTaP-IPV vaccine. Among the many 2,319,001 kids eligible for each vaccines, 97% had matching vaccination standing. This meant they both obtained each vaccines or neither. In the meantime, 1.4% have been vaccinated just for MMR, and 1.3% just for DTaP-IPV.
Common decline in vaccination protection within the Netherlands displays broader European tendencies
Protection for the primary dose of the measles-containing vaccine within the EU/European Financial Space (EEA) decreased from 95% in 2018 to 92% in 2022. Frequent explanations for declining protection embody mistrust in vaccines and governmental organizations, misinformation, and the affect of social media. These points have been reportedly exacerbated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
As outlined on this research, in 2022, within the Netherlands, belief in governmental establishments was beneath pre-pandemic ranges, particularly amongst people with decrease maternal training ranges, and was related to decrease COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Parental perceptions of childhood vaccination additionally turned barely extra unfavorable after the pandemic, though the decline within the protection had already begun earlier.
Social media was seen to play a big function in spreading misinformation concerning vaccinations. Analysis on Dutch Twitter exercise in 2019 confirmed how anti-vaccine narratives gained traction and influenced public opinion. Selective publicity to such a content material reinforces unfavorable attitudes, and the unregulated nature of on-line anti-vaccine messaging will increase the danger of uninformed resolution making.
Decline in vaccination protection is extra pronounced in particular inhabitants teams
Essentially the most substantial declines in vaccination charges for MMR and DTaP-IPV have been noticed amongst Dutch kids of non-Dutch origin, kids not attending daycare, these with self-employed moms, and youngsters within the lowest revenue households. In response to the research outcomes, kids of Moroccan, Turkish, Dutch-Caribbean, and Surinamese origin confirmed notably decrease vaccination protection.
Qualitative research have offered additional perception into the explanations behind decrease vaccination protection amongst Dutch kids with a migration background. As outlined on this research, outcomes of a spotlight group in 2015 amongst mother and father of Moroccan and Turkish origin recognized obstacles similar to issue understanding NIP info, restricted session time, and challenges accessing vaccination facilities.
Kids not attending daycare additionally confirmed decrease vaccination protection. Vaccination shouldn’t be required for daycare attendance within the Netherlands. However, in these settings, mother and father are sometimes requested about their kid’s vaccination standing, which was seen to probably affect their vaccination resolution making. Given the shut contact amongst kids in daycare settings, greater vaccination protection in these environments could be useful for stopping future outbreaks.
Kids from bigger households (4 or extra kids) had decrease vaccination protection than these from smaller households. This can be defined, partially, by the upper prevalence of enormous households inside Orthodox Protestant communities, the place vaccine hesitancy is extra widespread. Whereas decrease revenue was traditionally related to bigger household measurement, current tendencies counsel that greater revenue is turning into an more and more vital issue for having extra kids, notably amongst moms.
As outlined on this paper, systematic opinions have constantly discovered decrease routine childhood vaccination protection amongst kids with decrease parental socioeconomic standing. In high-income nations, financial disparities in vaccine uptake are sometimes linked to perceived dangers, belief in authorities and well being care professionals, and vaccine confidence, fairly than monetary entry.
Addressing the decline in childhood vaccination: A name for focused motion
The findings on this paper spotlight not solely a common downward development in vaccination uptake but additionally widening disparities amongst sociodemographic teams, with kids of non-Dutch origin, these from lower-income households, and people not attending daycare being disproportionately affected. These patterns enhance the danger of localized outbreaks, particularly the place unvaccinated kids are socially clustered.
As this paper outlines, additional analysis is required to grasp the underlying causes affecting vaccine uptake amongst decrease socioeconomic teams. Addressing misinformation, rebuilding belief in public establishments, and guaranteeing equitable entry to vaccination companies shall be crucial to reversing these tendencies and safeguarding kids’s well being throughout all segments of society.
Extra info:
Joyce Pijpers et al, The lower in childhood vaccination protection and its sociodemographic determinants, the Netherlands, beginning cohorts 2008 to 2020, Eurosurveillance (2025). DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2025.30.39.2500251
Offered by
European Centre for Illness Prevention and Management (ECDC)
Quotation:
Drop in childhood vaccination protection: Dutch research identifies tendencies pushed by socioeconomic elements (2025, October 9)
retrieved 9 October 2025
from https://medicalxpress.com/information/2025-10-childhood-vaccination-coverage-dutch-trends.html
This doc is topic to copyright. Aside from any honest dealing for the aim of personal research or analysis, no
half could also be reproduced with out the written permission. The content material is offered for info functions solely.
