The cabinet's intention to launch the first corona vaccines on 4 January evokes astonishment. Indeed, much is still unclear about the logistics surrounding this huge operation.
Healthcare minister Hugo de Jonge announced this week that the logistics operation is aimed at distributing the first vaccinations to the elderly and chronically ill from early 2021. The RIVM, GGDs, GPs and doctors in nursing homes and institutions will play a major role in this. Where exactly these vaccinations should take place is not yet known. Among other things, the GGD plans to set up tents.
Despite this lack of clarity, the Netherlands is ready for large-scale vaccination from 4 January, according to the Ministry of Health. Hans van Vliet, programme manager of the National Vaccination Programme, says that the operation in our country is in line with the logistics of the annual flu shot. This is not the case in surrounding countries, making it seem as if Germany - which is setting up massive centralised vaccination centres - is preparing much better for the corona vaccine.
Vaccination by GPs not feasible
Healthcare institutions, unions and logistics experts are questioning its feasibility, with the Dutch General Practitioners Association (LHV) stating that vaccination in GP practices is logistically impossible. This is because the vaccine has a limited shelf life, has to be stored frozen at -70 degrees Celsius and is packaged in large quantities. " Suppose you, as a GP practice, receive a supply of a thousand vaccines at once. You can't do anything with that as a small practice, because you can't vaccinate that many people in a short time," the LHV told NU.nl.
The Netherlands will be "dramatically behind the times" once the vaccine is available, CNV president Piet Fortuin expects. "Vaccinating millions of people is an immense, unprecedented operation like never before in the Netherlands. However, the cabinet plan barely sorts that out."
'Ministry is behind the times'
In Nieuwsuur, Jan Fransoo, professor of logistics at the University of Tilburg and TU Eindhoven, says he does not understand why the RIVM is "so vague about the logistics". "Nothing indicates that we are ready, because nothing has yet been announced about which strategy the RIVM chooses." According to Fransoo, the experience the RIVM has with the single flu vaccination is not enough, because two punctures are needed for the corona vaccine and it has to be stored very cold.
Herman van der Weide, former chief health inspector also expects chaos around the vaccinations. Van der Weide was involved in the swine flu vaccination programme in 2009. "There is so much you have to think about: are you going to hire Ahoy in Rotterdam or are you going to get all the GPs to take the shots? And how will they be paid? You have to think of a whole transport system: how do you store it, how do you drive it out, how do you make sure the vaccines stay refrigerated. It's a huge job to polish that off."
De Jonge: 'Different scenarios'
In a response to criticism, the ministry stressed that the Netherlands has a lot of experience with large-scale vaccination. De Jonge understands the concerns, but maintains that the planning is feasible. Because a number of things are still uncertain, implementing bodies will have to work with different scenarios, De Jonge said.
