In The Hague: AI Hologram Boosts Vaccination Awareness
the Hague Tackles Low Vaccination Rates with Targeted Initiatives
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The city is implementing a multifaceted approach to boost immunization levels.
More than a year ago, officials in The Hague, Netherlands, became concerned when measles-outbreak-spreads-like-wildfire-3-southern-provinces-hit-hard-vaccination-rates-lag-at-50/” title=”… Outbreak Spreads Like Wildfire: 3 Southern Provinces Hit Hard, Vaccination Rates Lag at 50%”>vaccination rates in every district fell below the 90% threshold. Some neighborhoods, like schilderswijk and Transvaal, had rates below 50% for mumps, measles, and rubella. The decline has now spread throughout the city, including areas like Zeeheldenkwartier, known for its educated and affluent residents.
In the summer of 2024, the National Institute for Public health and the Environment (RIVM) reported that vaccination rates in The Hague had decreased for the fourth consecutive year. This coincided with a measles outbreak. The RIVM reported this week that the Netherlands has 158 confirmed cases of measles.
A city official described the situation as “life-threatening,” expressing concern that national statistics, which showed a less drastic decline among young children, overshadowed the severity of the problem in major cities. Vaccination rates are also low in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht.
Community-Based Interventions
Over the past six months, The Hague has implemented several initiatives to increase vaccination rates. One pilot program allowed pregnant women to receive a maternal whooping cough vaccine (administered at 22 weeks to protect both mother and baby) directly at their midwifery practise, eliminating the need for a separate appointment.
Vaccinations were also offered at a secondary school, and informational evenings about vaccination were organized. A research group was established to study vaccination behavior, and an AI-powered hologram was installed in the town hall to answer questions about vaccinations.
Posters with messages such as, Babies are the moast vulnerable for illness
were displayed throughout the city to raise awareness. According to a city official, this was a purposeful effort to maintain a constant presence in the community.
Impact of Interventions
The number of maternal whooping cough vaccinations increased by 14% citywide, from 2,993 in 2023 to 3,412 in 2024, despite stable birth rates. Officials believe this increase is due to the municipality’s interventions. The pilot program at five midwifery practices in low-vaccination neighborhoods administered 107 vaccinations in a few months, accounting for a quarter of the overall increase.
Vaccinations against mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR) and diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, and polio (DTaP) also increased, by 4% and 9%, respectively. However, officials are hesitant to attribute this increase directly to the recent programs without further examination.
It’s not going to be ‘nice’ here, it goes downright bad.
The local public health service, GGD Haaglanden, reported positive signals
and a first indication
that the city’s plans are having an effect. Though, they noted that the number of children receiving booster shots later in school continues to decline.
According to Jeanne-Marie Hament, program manager of the RIVM national vaccination program, If you have had falling participation for years, and know how to turn the tide, that’s good.
She also noted that an increase in vaccinations does not instantly translate into a higher vaccination rate. The RIVM is expected to release updated figures in the summer.
Other major cities are also adopting more community-focused approaches to address declining vaccination rates. Rotterdam is organizing information sessions at daycare centers, and Amsterdam, where vaccinations are now available without appointments in low-vaccination neighborhoods, has also seen a slight increase in vaccination rates earlier this year.
Focus on Accessibility
The pilot program at the five midwifery practices proved most effective, according to a city official, because it provided immediate access to vaccinations. The National Vaccination Program typically recommends that women receive a whooping cough vaccine at 22 weeks of pregnancy. That goes pretty passive: they get a flyer from their midwife with which the government tries to convince them. Then they have to make an appointment for another moment, in a different place. Bizarre that we do it that way, we make it complicated. So we thought: we can also offer it if they are with the midwife, who they also trust.
the official stated.
In the Schilderswijk neighborhood, a midwife from the same region serves many labor migrants. Women with the same background trust her easier than such a flyer from the RIVM.
What remains worrying: the number of children who later, when they are in school, get a repeat prick, is still falling.
The municipality also offered vaccinations at a high school in Transvaal, vaccinating more than 50 students in one afternoon. Parents were informed in advance, and a walk-in evening was organized for questions.We have to be at school if we want to vaccinate more,
said the city official. There are also the biggest consequences in an outbreak.
However, a letter to the council regarding the vaccination initiatives noted that not all schools
are willing to participate in vaccination events, citing the sensitivity of the subject. And there are so many subjects that are sensitive: discrimination, anti-Semitism. Schools have a hard time with it,
the official said. We have made us have been driven apart in the field of vaccination after Corona. We have to go back. It is indeed a big responsibility to give to schools, but we help them with that.
An evaluation of the poster campaign in The Hague found that it had little impact, with 90% of those who saw the posters reporting no change in their views on vaccinating children. It is clear that something so impersonal does not work,
said the official, reinforcing the importance of personal conversations in promoting vaccination.
teh Hague Tackles Low vaccination Rates: A Q&A Guide
The city is employing a multifaceted approach to combat declining immunization levels.
As of March 2025, The Hague, Netherlands, is grappling with concerning drops in vaccination rates. This article explores the city’s initiatives to address this public health challenge, offering insights into the causes, interventions, and outcomes related to vaccination efforts.
Why Are Vaccination Rates Declining in The Hague?
Vaccination rates in The Hague have been falling, prompting public health concerns. This decline, which began over a year ago, has led to rates dropping below the 90% threshold in all districts.
- Past Data: The National Institute for Public Health and the Surroundings (RIVM) reported that vaccination rates in The Hague decreased for the fourth consecutive year, as of the summer of 2024.
- Measles Outbreak: This decline has coincided with a measles outbreak, with the Netherlands reporting 158 confirmed cases of measles as of early 2025.
- Specific Areas Affected: The decline is evident in districts such as Schilderswijk and Transvaal,where rates for mumps,measles,and rubella (MMR) are below 50%. The drop has spread to other areas, including Zeeheldenkwartier.
This situation is described by a city official as “life-threatening,” highlighting the urgency of the situation. low vaccination rates are also a challenge in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht.
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What Initiatives Has The Hague Implemented?
To combat the declining rates, The Hague has implemented several community-based initiatives. These programs aim to improve vaccine accessibility and address potential concerns.
- midwifery Practice Program: A pilot program allowing pregnant women to receive a maternal whooping cough vaccine directly at their midwifery practices.
- School Vaccinations: Vaccinations where offered in secondary schools.
- Informational Evenings: Informational evenings were organized to provide more data and answer questions.
- research Group: The city established a research group to study vaccination behavior.
- Public Awareness: The city installed an AI-powered hologram and displayed posters throughout the city to raise awareness about vaccines.
Related search terms: vaccination programs, public health interventions, community vaccination
How Effective Have These Initiatives Been?
early results suggest that the initiatives are showing promise, though a thorough evaluation is still underway.
- Whooping Cough Vaccinations: Maternal whooping cough vaccinations increased 14% citywide from 2023 to 2024 due to the interventions. One pilot program administered 107 vaccinations.
- MMR & dtap Vaccine Increase: vaccinations for mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR) and diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, and polio (DTaP) also increased, by 4% and 9%, respectively.
- Positive Signals: The local public health service, GGD Haaglanden, reported “positive signals” of the city’s plans having an effect.
However, officials are cautious about directly attributing these increases to the new programs until more in-depth examination is completed. The pilot program implemented at midwifery practices proved most effective, providing immediate access to vaccinations.
Related search terms: vaccine effectiveness, public health outcomes, vaccine program results.
What Challenges Does The hague Face?
While the initial results are encouraging,there are challenges to increasing vaccination rates,as well as areas for improvement.
- Declining Booster Shots: The number of children receiving booster shots later in school continues to fall.
- School Participation: Not all schools are willing to participate in vaccination events.
- Poster Campaign Ineffectiveness: The poster campaign had limited impact, with 90% of those who saw the posters reporting no change in their views on vaccinating children, reinforcing the importance of personal conversations in promoting vaccination.
Related search terms: vaccine hesitancy challenges, public health challenges, improving vaccine uptake
What Lessons Can Be Learned from The Hague’s Experience?
The Hague’s initiatives highlight several key areas to consider when addressing declining vaccination rates.
- accessibility is Key: Making vaccines readily available in trusted settings, such as midwifery practices, can considerably increase uptake.
- Community Engagement: Personal conversations and targeted messaging are more effective than impersonal communications, such as posters.
- Address Concerns: Understanding and addressing specific community concerns related to vaccination is essential.
- School Involvement: Collaborating with schools is effective, but challenges exist in school participation.
Other major cities,such as Rotterdam and Amsterdam,are also adopting similar community-focused approaches.
Related search terms: improving vaccine access, community health, vaccine promotion
Comparison of The Hague’s Initiatives
The following table summarizes the key initiatives and their outcomes.
| Initiative | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Midwifery Practice Program | Vaccinations offered directly at midwifery practices. | Whooping cough vaccinations increased by 14%. |
| School Vaccinations | Vaccinations offered in secondary schools. | Over 50 students were vaccinated in one afternoon. |
| Informational Evenings | Organized to inform and address vaccine concerns. | Ongoing; impact not yet fully assessed. |
| Public awareness campaigns (posters) | Display of posters around the city to raise awareness. | Found to have little impact. |