During the past 3 weeks there have been 24 confirmed measles infections in Limburg Province. Most of those that have caught measles are children under the age of 10. The Department of Care and the various Centers for Pupil Guidance (CLBs) are appealing to parents to ensure that their children get vaccinated against measles. The CLBs and the Department of Care are in contact with the families of those that have become infected and also intend to provide extra opportunities for children to be immunised against measles in schools.
The Department of Care’s Joris Moonens told VRT News that "Most of the infections are among children under the age of 10.” Mr Moonens added that most of those infected have been infected by other family members.
"At the moment we can’t really say that there is a regional spread, but rather that there are infections within a few family clusters”.
Low vaccination rate in Limburg
The Department of Care says that families have been affected where no one has been vaccinated against measles. These families are been spoken to in an effort to persuade them to get measles jabs. In addition to this the Care Department has asked the Centres for Pupil Guidence whether extra vaccination sessions can by organised in certain schools where the vaccination rate is currently low.
It has long been known that the vaccination rate among children in Limburg leaves at lot to be desired. According to the Vrij CLB, which monitors the vaccination of a large proportion of Limburg’s children, the vaccination rate has been in decline since 2019. “In 64 Limburg schools, there is a vaccination rate of only 70% or less,” Bea Meertens of the Vrij CLB told VRT News.
“We want to eradicate the virus completely from our society and in order to do so we need a 95% vaccination rate. If 1 person is sick and they come in contact with 10 people who are not protected, 9 of those 10 people will get sick and pass on the virus. It's a very contagious virus, which is why that vaccination rate needs to be so high", Ms Meertens said.