It’s been a much-debated issue, but it now seems as though D66s proposal to let day care centres refuse unvaccinated children can count on support from the majority of parties in the Dutch House of Representatives.
Day care centres can refuse unvaccinated children
With D66s legislative proposal, day care centres will now be able to refuse children who have not been vaccinated. The proposal has been slightly adjusted since the last time it was put forward as some parties would not support it due to fears that children who are medically unable to be vaccinated would be refused.
In the latest version, two points have thus been adjusted. Children who cannot be vaccinated because of medical reasons may not be refused; in the previous version, they could be. Additionally, the law will be evaluated after two years of its implementation. If it leads to undesirable situations, these can be addressed. The new version has now garnered support from two-thirds of the House of Representatives. The proposal still, however, has to be passed by the Dutch Senate.
A step in the right direction
D66 MP Paul van Meenen is calling the proposal a “first step” in the direction of more mandatory requirements for parents. Whilst some are in favour, others are critical of the plans as they worry that if day care centres can refuse children, these children will all end up lumped together and become a source of infection.
In the last few years, more and more parents chose not to vaccinate their children; this lead to outbreaks of measles at day care centres. According to figures from the National Institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM), last year the vaccination coverage for measles, mumps and rubella increased slightly. Despite this increase, D66 still wants to bring their proposal to a vote.