More than half of parents who only partially or not vaccinate their child do so out of fear of long-term side effects. Nearly 40 percent of parents think that the child’s immune system is resilient enough to clear up diseases such as measles and whooping cough. 29 percent of parents have doubts about the effectiveness of the vaccines. Research by RTL Nieuws also shows that fewer and fewer parents still have confidence in the RIVM and the GGD. Nevertheless, 53 percent of all parents with children under the age of 18 still completely trust institutions. RTL News reports this.
It is very important to regain parents’ trust in institutions, says pediatrician Patricia Bruijning of UMC Utrecht. Otherwise, the number of vaccinations will only decrease and the risks of serious outbreaks will only increase.
Fair questions
The pediatrician does believe that parents often ask justified questions. “We must continue to discuss this with them. We must make it clear that vaccinating children and pregnant women is not only safe, but also very important for the health of all of us.” Vaccinations do have side effects, but they are not nearly as serious or dangerous as the diseases against which these shots protect. One of the questions Bruijning often receives is whether children can handle so many vaccinations in their short lives. She always explains to parents that young children can handle and process these stimuli to the immune system very well.
By: National Healthcare Guide / Johanne Levinsky
