Hoe denkt de bevolking van Zuid-Holland Zuid over vaccinaties?

Samenvatting

Afwijzing van het rijksvaccinatieprogramma (RVP) leidt tot een lagere vaccinatiegraad, een factor die infectieziekte-uitbraken in de hand werkt. Daarom zijn de opvattingen over het RVP onder de bevolking in Zuid-Holland Zuid onderzocht. De gezondheidsmonitor van de Dienst Gezondheid & Jeugd in Zuid-Holland Zuid bevatte vragen over opvattingen over vaccinatie en achtergrondkenmerken (leeftijd, opleiding, kindtal, etniciteit, vaccinatiestatus). Opvattingen over vaccinatie gingen specifiek over geloofsovertuiging, het idee dat vaccinaties niet nodig zijn, dat vaccinaties betutteling zijn door de overheid, en de angst dat vaccinaties ernstige bijwerkingen kunnen hebben. Logistische regressie werd gebruikt om de associaties te onderzoeken tussen achtergrondkenmerken en opvattingen over vaccinatie.

Abstract

What are the attitudes towards vaccination in South-Holland South?

The Dutch region of South-Holland South comprises several municipalities with a low vaccination coverage, and has been particularly vulnerable for epidemics. This study aims to gain insight into the attitudes towards the vaccination schedule in South-Holland South. The health monitor of the local Community Health Service surveyed attitudes towards vaccination, and queried background characteristics (age, education, family size, ethnicity, vaccination status). Attitudes towards vaccination were religious objections against vaccination, but also the idea that vaccinations are not necessary, that vaccinations are a governmental method of patronising the population, and that vaccinations may have side-effects. Logistic regression was used to investigate the associations between background characteristics and attitudes towards vaccination. Younger age and a greater family size were associated with religious objections against vaccination. The open question whether there is a trend of religious objections against vaccination within the next generations, deserves more research with the use of longitudinal analyses (future repetition of the health monitor). In addition, religious objections against vaccination were a solid reason not to vaccinate their children (OR~40). A non-western country of origin was associated with both the idea that vaccination is a governmental method of patronising the population (OR=2,9), and fear of side-effects (OR=1,8). These two attitudes did not stand out as reasons for rejecting the vaccination programme (p>0.001). On the basis of the present study, we recommend to use more modifiable parameters in a future health monitor as well as qualitative studies to further identify the concerns of the target groups specified, in order to find target-specific interventions.