Fewer and fewer children are being vaccinated in Zaanstad. The vaccination rate is far below the critical limit of 90 percent. Council members are very concerned and submitted the motion ‘Vaccination keeps our children healthy’. This motion was discussed in the Council meeting on Thursday evening – April 26.
By submitting the motion, the councilors are asked to fulfill an ambassadorial role as ‘an advocate for the National Vaccination Program in order to convince more parents of the necessity and usefulness of vaccinating their children.’
Parents increasingly appear to be choosing not to vaccinate their children due to misinformation or insufficient information. Natascha Stroo (GroenLinks) calls it a ‘virus of disinformation that is spreading rapidly through social media such as TikTok and Instagram.’
A majority of the parties share the concerns, although there is uncertainty about the responsibility for the implementation of the National Vaccination Program. This is located at the municipality. Introducing a vaccination requirement is not possible – and is also undesirable because it goes against the individual right to self-determination – but it is of course possible to draw attention to the importance of vaccination.
DZ, Denk and PVV are not very keen on fulfilling an ‘ambassador’s role’ regarding the National Vaccination Program. Maikel Kat (DZ) wanted to hear from the applicants how they would envision such a role. ‘Is the council going to be vaccinated in a video or something like that?’ Apparently Maikel Kat has forgotten that this is about vaccinating children.
Sebnem Pancar (DENK) is convinced that parents can make a well-considered choice whether or not to have their child vaccinated. ‘There is no need for anyone to try to convince them of this. That is why we are voting against this motion.’ Information is essential for a well-considered choice. Doctors indicate that there is insufficient knowledge among parents. For example, infections have become so rare that many parents no longer understand the importance of vaccination. It is thought that these are harmless childhood diseases.
The motion was adopted by a large majority. Discussions are being held with GGD Zaanstreek-Waterland and work is being done on a district-oriented approach. Responsible councilor Stephanie Onclin (VVD): ‘this information will come to you later’. We will keep an eye on it for ‘you’.
Text: De Orkaan Editorial, Source: Council meeting 25-04-2024, Photo: Vaccination file De Tref 17-04-2024, by Arjen Heistek
Tags: Denk PVV ambassador role vaccination program
