The number of Amsterdam children and youth aged 4 to 18 who come for vaccination after an invitation from the GGD increased again in 2025. We are pleased with this, as vaccinations protect against contagious diseases such as measles, whooping cough, and polio. Not only is the total turnout increasing, but the differences between neighborhoods are also decreasing. At the same time, Amsterdam still lags behind the national average. So there is still work to be done.

We see an upward trend in the turnout figures for the National Vaccination Program for schoolchildren and youth in 2025 in Amsterdam. The differences in turnout between neighborhoods are decreasing. This shows that our neighborhood approach is working.

Clear growth in 2025

More children came to get a shot in 2025 after receiving an invitation from the GGD. These are the figures:

  • 77.7 percent of 7-, 8-, and 9-year-olds received a MMR shot (mumps, measles, rubella) last year. This is an increase of 3.5 percentage points compared to 2023.
  • 68.3 percent of ten-year-olds received an HPV shot. An increase of 8.7 percentage points compared to 2023.
  • 66.3 percent of 14-year-olds came for the meningococcal shot. In 2023, that was 64.3 percent. An increase of 2 percentage points.

The increase in HPV vaccination is particularly notable. In 2 years, turnout increased by almost 9 percent.

Smaller differences between neighborhoods

Not only is the total turnout increasing, but the differences between neighborhoods are also decreasing. In 2025, the MMR turnout in Amsterdam was above 60 percent for the first time again. For HPV, the turnout in all of Amsterdam is now above 40 percent. The increase is strongest in certain areas in North, Nieuw-West, and Southeast, where we try to stimulate turnout with a neighborhood-oriented and fine-meshed approach. With this, we want to give everyone a fair chance at health.

In Nieuw-West, for example, improvements are visible for the number of 7- and 8-year-olds who received an MMR shot in Geuzenveld-Slotermeer and De Aker & Nieuw-Sloten. In both areas, turnout increased by 5 percent. In Northeast, a remarkable increase is seen, especially for HPV. Turnout here increased by no less than 30 percent between 2023 and 2025.

Approach for specific neighborhoods

Our approach for the above-mentioned neighborhoods consists of 3 parts:

  1. Offering vaccinations and information closer and more accessible
  2. Collaborating to strengthen trust in vaccinations
  3. Reaching more parents and youth with a target group-oriented approach

Lagging behind

Despite the increase, vaccination rates in Amsterdam are still expected to be below the safe WHO standards. So we must continue to commit ourselves. From 2027, structural funds will be available for the neighborhood-oriented approach. Until then, we will continue this approach as much as possible to maintain the upward trend we have started.