Flemish children and adolescents are exceptionally well vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine: Reports

In Flanders, in 2020, the Flemish children along with the adolescents are “exceptionally well” vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine with more additional pregnant women also getting the shots, by ending a new study on the general vaccination coverage.

The vaccination coverage study examined the vaccination of the target groups against measles, diphtheria, influenza or HPV, among others.

Along with this, in 2020, the study focused on the toddlers, adolescents, mothers who have recently delivered a baby, the health professionals as well as the individuals who work with the children.

The cases of the COVID-19 infection is decreasing gradually, and most of the data were collected before the beginning of the pandemic has been improved.

Moreover, the Flemish Health Minister named Wouter Beke mentioned, “The Flemish Vaccination Rate Study again shows positive figures despite the coronavirus crisis. This study shows the results for all age groups and vaccines and confirms our strong vaccination uptake.”

The coverage of the recommended free vaccines for the young ones, including against polio, whooping cough and measles, remains constant with the results that range between 92.9 percent and 96.1 percent, which is almost similar to the 2016 data.

However, the considerable rise in the rotavirus vaccine was also noticed, but it was not free of cost. The data represents an increase from 89.7 percent in 2016 to 92.4 percent in 2020.

The Adolescents that were born in 2007 also had an increase in the vaccination rate, which was 92.6 percent that has been vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio, which is the similar result as in 2016.

On the other hand, a minor rise in both the two of the vaccination shots has been reported of diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio.

According to the study supervisor Kirsten Maertens (UAntwerpen), the individuals that are agreed for getting vaccinated are high in Flanders.

“Only 4.2% of parents of incompletely vaccinated young children indicated a deliberate refusal to have them vaccinated. Parents of adolescents mainly cited practical reasons for non-vaccination, such as postponement due to the pandemic.”