Until July 4, 16 soldiers from the Royal Netherlands Army will assist daily at the vaccination locations in Arnhem and Barneveld. The soldiers have two tasks. Some will receive visitors and direct them to a vaccination line or doctor. The other soldiers will administer the actual vaccination. They have received training at the Defence Medical Training and Education Centre (DGOTC).

In the coming months, the Netherlands will receive significantly more coronavirus vaccines. To be able to vaccinate as quickly as possible when large deliveries arrive, Minister De Jonge (VWS) has asked the GGD to prepare nationally for administering a maximum of 2 million shots per week in June. GGD Gelderland-Midden is therefore working hard to increase the vaccination speed. This GGD is also expanding the number of vaccination lines per location and may extend the opening hours of the vaccination locations. With the opening of the XL vaccination location in Sportpark Molenbeke, the GGD is increasing the vaccination capacity in the region by another 4000 shots per day. The extra hands from Defence are more than welcome in this scaling up.

The deployed soldiers come from the 11 Air Mobile Brigade from Schaarsbergen. They will start participating in the 7-day work schedule in Molenbeke and Barneveld from May 31. The assistance involves military support in the public interest. Since January, Defence has made 1000 soldiers available for both testing and vaccination locations. After the previous deployment at COVID testing locations, Defence is now deploying soldiers at a vaccination location for the first time at the request of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) and the GGD.