Hundreds of vaccinations cancelled in Amsterdam: venue needed for festivals

The GGD Amsterdam has cancelled hundreds of vaccination appointments because a vaccination site will be needed for two days to host the Pleinvrees and De Zon festivals.

One of Amsterdam’s four vaccination sites, the NDSM Loods, will be used for the two festivals at the end of July.

While it would be cool to get your vaccine at a festival — this is unfortunately not possible. A spokesperson tells RTL Nieuws that vaccinations “cannot be combined with the festivals on the NDSM site.” Wat jammer!

Unfortunately, those who were scheduled to receive their vaccines on July 31 and August 1 at the venue will have to rebook.

Miscommunication

According to a spokesperson from the GGD, the health service had assumed that they could continue vaccinating people, despite the festivals. However, they have now realised that “it’s not going to work”.

The GGD set about cancelling the hundreds of appointments that had been made for those two days with a text message. It almost feels like being dumped over text… spineless. In the text, people have been asked to rebook their appointments.

With infection numbers arising after the reopening of night club nights, and congested phone lines for rebooking appointments, people across social media are fuming.

However, not all hope is lost. According to the GGD, those whose appointments were cancelled should be able to receive their vaccine on the same day at a different location.

What are your thoughts on this mix up? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: Joey Thompson/Unsplash

Jen Lorimer 🇿🇼
Jen Lorimer 🇿🇼
An avid tea drinker, Jen was born and raised in Zimbabwe. She moved to Utrecht in 2017 to pursue her history degree. She loves people-watching, canoeing the Utrecht canals, and observing how the Dutch come alive in summer. Having been traumatised by a Dutch circle party, Jen wants to help equip other internationals with tips and tricks to survive and thrive in this wonderful flat country.

4 COMMENTS

  1. It seems that this government hasn’t learned anything in the past 1,5 year. the number of infections has gone up 3 times with respect to 1 week ago, exactly because of crowded events, and now we are cancelling vaccination appointments – which are supposed to help stopping the spread of the virus – in favour of activities that will increase infections even more. How long before we have to shut everything down again? and for what? just so that a bunch of people could dance in a night club?

  2. Cancelling vaccine appointments because of a festival is an absolute madness.
    But it’s also something terrible that they do not clearly say in the message you can get your shot somewhere else, and also that the only way they provide to get another appointment is by phone. Where’s inclusion there? Lots of people aren’t able to do an appointment by phone.

  3. Not a firm advocate of vaccines, but for those who want them and a government that endorses and provides them … this is sheer idiocy! Festivals contribute nothing to good health; vaccines MAY.

  4. Sure as hell know now what has priority in Holland. Festivals make lots of money, and people come at second place.
    Sure as hell am glad we emigrated to BC Canada! Had both of my doses of Pfizer vaccine. First one in March, second one in June. Our whole family is fully vaccinated, don’t need a mask, no social distancing, and everything is open! Life is getting back to normal!

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