Pediatricians Call for Expanded Meningitis Vaccination to Protect All Children

Belgian pediatricians call for expanded meningitis vaccination coverage, citing urgent need to close gaps in child protection

According to a June 2026 white paper by the Belgian Association of Pediatrics (BAoP), Belgian pediatricians are urging broader vaccination against meningitis to ensure "every child deserves the same protection." The advisory follows data showing persistently low vaccination rates in the Netherlands, despite the availability of effective vaccines targeting the leading bacterial causes of the disease.

The BAoP’s report, published in late June, states that current immunization levels remain insufficient to prevent outbreaks. "Meningitis is a preventable disease, but without higher vaccination rates, children remain at unnecessary risk," said a BAoP spokesperson in a statement released alongside the white paper. The association specifically highlights the need to align Dutch vaccination policies with those of neighboring countries, where coverage rates are high for key meningitis serogroups.

Why are vaccination rates lagging in the Netherlands?
The BAoP attributes the gap to a combination of factors, including vaccine hesitancy among parents and inconsistent regional implementation of national immunization programs. While the Netherlands introduced a national meningitis B vaccination program in 2018, uptake has stalled—well below the World Health Organization’s recommended threshold for herd immunity. The BAoP’s white paper cites a 2025 study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, which found that even partial coverage leaves vulnerable populations exposed, particularly in densely populated urban areas.

What does the BAoP’s white paper recommend?
The association’s key proposals include:

• Mandatory school-entry requirements for meningitis vaccines, similar to policies in France and Germany.
• Expanded public awareness campaigns targeting parents, emphasizing the disease’s rapid progression and high fatality rate, with severe neurological sequelae in survivors.
• Strengthened collaboration between pediatricians, general practitioners, and public health authorities to track and close coverage gaps in real time.

The BAoP’s call comes as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported an increase in invasive meningococcal disease cases across the EU in 2025, with the Netherlands among the hardest-hit countries. "This is not just about individual protection—it’s about collective responsibility," the white paper states. "Without urgent action, we risk seeing preventable deaths and long-term disabilities that could have been avoided."

How do Dutch vaccination rates compare to other countries?
Dutch coverage for meningitis B lags behind several EU peers:

• France: High coverage (mandatory since 2020)
• Germany: High coverage (school-entry requirement since 2019)
• Belgium: Targeted catch-up campaigns in 2024
• Netherlands: Voluntary program since 2018

Key uncertainties remain
Despite the BAoP’s urgency, challenges persist:

• Regional disparities: Some municipalities report lower coverage rates, while others exceed high levels.

As the debate intensifies, one fact remains clear: meningitis is a disease that strikes without warning. And in the Netherlands, thousands of children may still be at risk—unless action is taken now.

Sources:

• Belgian Association of Pediatrics (BAoP) white paper, June 2026
• The Lancet Infectious Diseases, 2025 study on meningococcal disease clusters
• European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) 2025 report
• Dutch Ministry of Health statement to HLN, June 2026
• RIVM survey on vaccine hesitancy, 2026