Vaccine uptake determinants in The Netherlands

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Immunization Programs

Background:

• National Immunisation Programmes can improve strategies by understanding vaccine uptake determinants.
• Combining background characteristics with immunization registers offers valuable insights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify determinants of vaccine uptake in children born in 2005 in the Netherlands.
• To analyze the influence of ethnic background, socio-economic status, and religious objection on vaccination status.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Dutch national immunization register (Præventis) for children born in 2005.
• Employed a hierarchical logistic regression model to assess associations.
• Examined individual, postcode, and municipal level factors including ethnic background, socio-economic status, and religious objection.

Main Results:

• Children with both parents born outside the Netherlands exhibited lower full vaccine uptake (e.g., OR=0.7 for Turkish-born parents).
• Partial vaccine uptake was higher (3.7-8.0%) compared to fully vaccinated children (3.1%).
• Higher religious objection and lower socio-economic status were associated with reduced full vaccine uptake.

Conclusions:

• Determinants of vaccine uptake were identified by integrating data sets, offering a model for other countries.
• Ethnic background and socio-economic status require more attention in the Netherlands compared to religious objection.
• Groups with high partial uptake, who do not generally reject vaccination, need focused attention.