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Dutch doctor forced to bin 60 doses of vaccine due to no-shows

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Dutch doctor forced to bin 60 doses of vaccine due to no-shows

A Dutch doctor has been left frustrated as he had to throw away 60 syringes full of the AstraZeneca vaccine last night. The GP had arranged for a catch-up evening of vaccinations because there had been such a low turnout two weeks prior.

Dr Marco Blanker sent out 250 invites to receive the vaccine and prepared accordingly by filling a number of syringes in advance. However, only 72 people showed up. The remaining 60 prepared syringes had to be dumped into the bin.

Less than expected

Dr Blanker had hoped to counteract the low turnout his practice in Zwolle experienced two weeks ago after the decision was made to only administer the injection to over 60s. “Two weeks ago we had our big injection day,” he tells RTL Nieuws, “we had a big no-show then.”

Last night, Dr Blanker had hoped to make up for the poor turnout experienced two weeks ago. The practice had taken the possibility of a low turnout into account when preparing the doses but even fewer people than expected showed.

The doctor took to twitter to express his frustration over the worrying number of over 60s who are refusing the vaccine.

Dr Blanker tweeted in response to the Ministry of Health Welfare and Sport after they heard that he had vaccines left over at his practice. He said that he had received no help from the ministry in trying to reallocate the doses and shared a photo of discarded syringes.

“No help from the VWS (Ministry). Tonight’s results: see this photo. And this was while we had been very conservative with our preparation,” the tweet read.

A conservative amount

It takes 15 minutes to take a dose of the vaccine from the bottle into the syringe. Doctors have to be slow and ensure no air bubbles get in. As a result, many practices will prepare the syringes in advance so that the process will be much quicker.

Unfortunately, due to an even lower turnout than expected, this meant that Dr Blanker and his staff had prepared 60 doses too many. These doses could not be put back in the fridge as it is against regulation — meaning they had to be binned unless he could find someone else to take them.

However, GPs are currently at risk of being fined if they give the vaccine to anyone under the age of 60. Dr Blanker expressed his frustration to RTL Nieuws, “we have a group that wants to be vaccinated and is aware of the risks, and we cannot vaccinate them under the threat of the high fines. We are not going to take that risk.”

What are your thoughts on this situation? Tell us in the comments below.

Feature Image: Mat Napo/Unsplash

How the Dutch government almost became the new owner of HEMA

Jana Vondráčková 🇨🇿
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How the Dutch government almost became the new owner of HEMA

You know how everyone talks about how you need to start buying stocks? The Dutch government seems to have taken this advice to heart, as it considered becoming a co-shareholder of the popular Dutch chain, HEMA. 

However, this potential purchase wasn’t just a strategic investment move. HEMA has been making losses for years and this was actually supposed to help save the retail chain.

HEMA has a historical and sentimental value for many Dutchies and the Ministry of Economic Affairs was afraid of the political and social consequences if the store was to disappear… so they just decided to buy it. 

The deal was that if the retail chain fails to reach an agreement with creditors, the government would buy 50 million worth of stocks to save the company, reports the NOS. 

The final decision

However, the purchase was ultimately stopped by the Dutch Minister of Finance, Woepke Hoekstra, who wanted to let the market do its magic. So how did things end for the beloved store? 

HEMA announced at the end of last December that it would be taken over by the Dutch investment fund Parcom and the owners of Jumbo. The debts of the current creditors would only be taken up by the three big banks — ABN Amro, ING, and Rabobank. 

Would you have liked to see the government buying HEMA? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Feature Image: Jordy Schaap/Wikimedia Commons/CC4.0

Nearly two-thirds think that Rutte should leave office: why don’t the Dutch like their PM?

Jana Vondráčková 🇨🇿
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2
Nearly two-thirds think that Rutte should leave office: why don’t the Dutch like their PM?

A recent survey conducted by Hart van Nederland found that the majority of Dutchies are seriously wondering why Mark Rutte is still the country’s prime minister. 

As an international not closely following Dutch politics, you may be curious what caused this dramatic unpopularity. Here are some of the reasons why Mark Rutte may no longer be the prime minister the Netherlands wants. 

Childcare allowance scandal 

In the childcare allowance scandal, which was hotly debated at the beginning of this year, the Dutch Tax Authority falsely accused thousands of parents of making fraudulent childcare allowance claims, making them repay the benefits they had received. 

Ethnic profiling and institutional bias were involved, and some families had to repay tens of thousands of euros, ending up in financial hardship. 

An investigation carried out by a parliamentary committee stated that Mark Rutte and his second and third cabinet were partly responsible for this injustice towards thousands of parents. 

Following these events, in January 2021, Mark Rutte and his crumbling cabinet officially resigned, announcing they would finish the election term as a demissionary cabinet. 

The Omtzigt scandal

However, the childcare allowance scandal wasn’t enough to deter people from voting for Rutte, and in March, his VVD (People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy) won the election again. 

But the subsequent debates about the formation of the new government led to yet another scandal — and this time, Rutte’s reputation was seriously damaged. 

It all started when the Minister of Interior Relations Kajsa Ollongern tested positive for coronavirus in the middle of debates with party leaders of the newly elected government.  

As she was rushing home, she forgot to cover confidential notes which mentioned that the CDA parliament member Pieter Omtzigt — the very person who happened to have played a crucial role in exposing the childcare allowance scandal — could “get a position elsewhere.” 

Rutte denied discussing Omtzigt’s position in the coalition negotiations, but more leaked notes proved the opposite. The prime minister was called a liar and lost the trust of not only many other party leaders, but also the people. 

About 60% of the Dutch think that Rutte should have resigned from his position after that scandal, found the Hart van Nederland survey.

Handling the pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic is a challenge for governments across the world. However, some administrations have handled this challenge better than others — support for the Dutch approach has been declining over the past year. 

A recent survey from the RIVM found that only 42% of the people surveyed have confidence in the way the Dutch government is handling the pandemic. In contrast, 17% had zero confidence in the government’s approach.

Denying the Dutch their favourite snack

If all the previous points weren’t enough, Mark Rutte’s latest statement was definitely the final straw. During the last press conference, the prime minister casually announced that even though bars and restaurants are opening, it’s not yet time for bitterballen. 

While this may sound trivial in the light of the aforementioned scandals, some Dutchies experience this as an attack on the public and feel that the prime minister is no longer close to the ordinary people. 

How closely do you follow Dutch politics? Do you think that Mark Rutte should leave the office? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: Government of Netherlands/Wikimedia Commons/CC1.0

Dutch passport ranks sixth-best (in a post-pandemic world)

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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0
Dutch passport ranks sixth-best (in a post-pandemic world)

The Dutch passport has been crowned as sixth-best in the world — hoera! 🎉

We may not be able to travel at the moment (don’t remind us!) but when borders do re-open Dutchies will be able to travel armed with a passport that ranks among kings! Alright, maybe not kings, but they’re right up there.

The ranking came from The Henley Passport Index who compared 199 different passports to 227 travel destinations. Earlier this year, a separate ranking claimed the Dutch passport as fourth-best — but we’re still pretty happy with this result. ✈️ 😉

Dutch passport among the best

Travellers with a Dutch passport can swan into 188 destinations without the need for any visa. This puts them in equal sixth place, alongside fellow European countries France, Ireland, Portugal, and Sweden.

Japan snatched up first place in the ranking, with citizens able to access 193 destinations visa-free. Singapore claimed second place with 192, and Germany and South Korea share third place with visa-free access to 191 countries.

What’s the use in a pandemic?

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept, says the past year has demonstrated that no government is infallible — even the world’s superpowers and wealthiest nations floundered — and many failed their citizens. 

“While nobody expects a return to pre-pandemic mobility levels anytime soon, the outlook now is certainly more hopeful than it was even a few months ago. The latest ranking is a reminder that economic recovery and development are dependent on global mobility, including personal travel freedom, and that passport power should never be taken for granted.”

Of course, the big question is where does your passport rank?

Best passports to hold in 2021

  1. Japan (193 destinations)
  2. Singapore (192)
  3. Germany, South Korea (191)
  4. Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain (190)
  5. Austria, Denmark (189)
  6. France, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden (188)
  7. Belgium, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States (187)
  8. Czech Republic, Greece, Malta, Norway (186)
  9. Australia, Canada (185)
  10. Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia (183)

Worst passports to hold in 2021

  1. Libya (40 destinations)
  2. North Korea (39)
  3. Nepal (38)
  4. Palestinian territories (37)
  5. Somalia (34)
  6. Yemen (33)
  7. Pakistan (32)
  8. Syria (29)
  9. Iraq (28)
  10. Afghanistan (26)

Happy with your ranking? Share it with us in the comments below!

Image: Taryn Elliot/Pexels

International students in the Netherlands are more stressed than ever

Jana Vondráčková 🇨🇿
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7
International students in the Netherlands are more stressed than ever

While coronavirus has affected us all, one group of people that are suffering the consequences of the pandemic is rarely talked about — international students. A new study finds that most of them experience stress, loneliness, and psychological problems. 

About a quarter of international students in the Netherlands feel little or no joy this academic year. In addition, more than 65% experience a lot of stress, and about a half experience irritation as well as loneliness, according to a study by the Dutch National Student Association (ISO), the National Student Union (LSVb), and ESN The Netherlands and reported in Het Parool. 

This is hardly surprising. International students come to the Netherlands from countries that are often hours away by aeroplane, not knowing a single person but hoping to make new friends and potentially build a life.

The pandemic version of a student life

Instead, the students spend their school year in a, sometimes less-than-ideal, student room, only ever interacting with the professors and fellow students via a computer screen. 

If that wasn’t enough, restaurants, sports facilities, and cultural institutions have been closed for most of the year, so there’s little opportunity for a life outside the house. 

The government halving the tuition for the next academic year is also not that big of a win, especially if you’re only coming to do a one-year program.

Struggles to find housing

Poor information about housing doesn’t really help the cause either. International students are often discriminated against (you know, those “no internationals” ads on Facebook) and scammed. 

In addition, many report that they struggle with mastering the Dutch language. As a consequence, they miss out on interactions with local students, as well as potential job opportunities.  

This needs to change

“Many international students are on the brink of collapse. They need help and do not receive enough of it from their studies. We have to change that before the summer,” says the chairman of the Dutch National Student Association, Dahran Çoban. 

The association argues that the Dutch Ministry of Education should monitor the circumstances of international students more closely. 

“We see that the ministry and educational institutions attach importance to international students, but miss the attention to the interests of those students.” 

READ MORE | Take care: five ways to cope with the mental impact of lockdown in the Netherlands

This is quite shocking, as internationals make up about one-fifth of the currently enrolled students at Dutch universities. 

Are you an international student in the Netherlands yourself? How have you been coping the past year? Let us know in the comments below!

Feature Image: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels

Dutchies angered as Rutte says it’s not time for bitterballen

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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1
Dutchies angered as Rutte says it’s not time for bitterballen

It seems that Prime Minister Rutte has landed himself in hot water yet again. This time, however, it’s not about the curfew or secret council meetings — it’s about bitterballen. 

Yes, bitterballen. The delicious, molten, deep fried, breadcrumb-coated, goopy greatness that you usually enjoy while sitting in a café with some friends. Once you have tasted one of these Dutch delights it’s not hard to imagine that they are something worth getting passionate over.

So Rutte may have made a grave mistake when he uttered the words “you can scrap the bitterballen” at Tuesday’s press conference. 

What’s all the fuss about? 

Ok, let’s offer a bit of context here. At Tuesday’s press conference, prime minister Rutte announced that the Netherlands is going to start easing coronavirus restrictions from April 28. 

As part of this easing, café terraces will be open from 12 PM to 6 PM. Now, what usually goes well with a biertje in the sun? Bitterballen of course! But it seems Rutte does not want the nation to start enjoying these just yet — and Dutchies are getting pressed. 

Why come for the bitterballen? 

The reasoning behind Rutte’s controversial statement is not quite known. According to RTL Nieuws, it may be because the prime minister believes bitterballen are only eaten after 6 PM and hence, the Netherlands cannot enjoy them yet. 

However, Rutte would be wrong in thinking this. In the Netherlands, it is always time for bitterballen with many cafés offering the meaty delicacy by noon — if not sooner. As a result, people are beginning to question whether the prime minister has lost touch with his people. 

One “snackspert,” Eke Bosman is of this opinion, telling RTL Nieuws “it felt a bit like an attack on the public. I think he is no longer close to us as ordinary Dutch people.”

What are your thoughts on the Dutch prime minister’s blasphemous statement? Tell us in the comments below!

Feature Image: Rudy and Peter Skitterians/Pixabay

Parents of 13-year-old who plundered Jumbo during riots to pay €18,000

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
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Parents of 13-year-old who plundered Jumbo during riots to pay €18,000

On January 24 of this year, rioters took to the streets in Eindhoven to protest against the curfew and the lockdown. Shops and stores were looted during the chaos, now, people have to answer for the destruction. 

Yesterday, a 13-year-old boy faced the juvenile court in Eindhoven. He had been part of a group of rioters who caused enormous damage to Eindhoven station. During the riot, he threw stones through the station’s windows and looted the Jumbo.

The boy was sentenced to a training sentence (a course in managing certain emotions) of 35 hours and conditional community service of 60 hours. However, on top of the sentences, his parents will also have to pay €18,000 for the damage he caused, AD reports.

Other convictions also made

The boy is not the first to face the consequences of looting Jumbo. A 35-year-old man has been sentenced to eight months in prison for his involvement in looting the store and for violence against police.

A 17-year-old boy was also placed before the juvenile court for looting Jumbo. He was given a month-long suspended prison sentence, 70 hours of community service and has to pay €9,950 in compensation.

What are your thoughts on these rulings? Tell us in the comments below! 

Feature Image: Alex McCarthy/Unsplash

Dutch healthcare unions call relaxation of measures “Russian roulette”

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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0
Dutch healthcare unions call relaxation of measures “Russian roulette”

Healthcare unions have criticised the relaxation of coronavirus measures announced at last night’s press conference, saying the re-opening of Dutch society is starting too early.

Last night, the Dutch government announced six areas for relaxation, including the reopening of terraces during designated hours, the ability to shop in non-essential stores without an appointment, and an increase of guests allowed in the home.

“Society wants the start of the end, the road back to normalcy,” Prime Minister Mark Rutte said at the time.

Hospitals remain under pressure, say unions

Chairperson of healthcare union NU91 Stella Salden says that nurses would love to be able to relax, but the pressure needs to come off Dutch hospitals first. “So then we can soon enjoy a beer or wine at the terrace, especially the nurses who have been on the front line for a year.”

FNV Zorg director Elise Merlijn has called the move “Russian roulette,” arguing that hospitals are continuing to operate under an “all hands on deck” policy. “There is a high level of absenteeism and operating theatres are closed because employees help out in intensive care,” she explains.

“I wonder how happy people will be when they stand in front of a closed hospital door,” Merlijn said.

Government authorities disagree

Conversely, the National Acute Care Network says the current number of infections and hospitalizations show that the measures can be relaxed. “There is now a stable level. If it stays that way, we think that cautious, light easing is possible,” said a spokesman.

Rutte agrees, saying last night that the curve is flattening and data from the RIVM shows that now is a “responsible” enough time to take that first step.

Do you think now is the right time to reopen Dutch society? Tell us in the comments below!
Feature Image: EVG/Pexels 

First shots of Janssen vaccine given to Dutch health workers today

Chloe Lovatt 🇬🇧
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0
First shots of Janssen vaccine given to Dutch health workers today

Finally, some good news in the Dutch vaccination strategy! Today, the first shots of the Janssen vaccine will be given to mental health workers in Leiden.

Earlier this month, the rollout of the vaccine was halted due to fears over links with thrombosis. Yesterday, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) released the vaccine after investigating these links. It has concluded that thrombosis is a very rare side effect, but the advantages of the vaccine outweigh the disadvantages, reports the NOS.

The Netherlands has ordered 11.3 million doses of the Janssen vaccine basing much of its vaccination strategy on its distribution.

What is the Janssen vaccine?

The one-shot vaccine was partly developed and produced in Leiden. Unlike other vaccines, the Janssen (A.K.A the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) only requires one dose to be effective against coronavirus. Good news if you’re not a fan of needles. 💉

The vaccine has proven to be up to 85% effective against serious cases of coronavirus and 100% effective against dying from the disease. In comparison, the risk of thrombosis is less than one in a million.

When will I get my first coronavirus vaccine?

In yesterday’s press conference, Minister of Health, Hugo de Jonge said that he expects everyone over 60 and those in vulnerable groups to have their first shots by the first week of May. Previously, he has said that every adult will have received their first shot of the vaccine by July.

Recently, the RIVM has released an official vaccination calculator. Using this tool, you can find out when you can expect your first dose of a coronavirus vaccine. At the moment, the calculator predicts that anyone under the age of 50 without serious health conditions will be invited for vaccination by the end of June.

What do you think of the Dutch vaccination strategy? Let us know in the comments!

Feature Image: Janssen.com/Press Release

Press conference: terraces and shops reopen, curfew to be lifted, and more

Samantha Dixon 🇦🇺
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2
Press conference: terraces and shops reopen, curfew to be lifted, and more

Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Minister for Health Hugo de Jonge have returned to the podium to announce an easing in coronavirus measures in the Netherlands. 

The curfew is getting cut, shops are opening their doors, and we can finally drink wine on a terrace — if you’re a fan of day drinking, that is.

Here are the six things that will be changing from next week: 

1. No more curfew

Mark this date in your diaries: the curfew will officially end on Wednesday, April 28 at 5:30 AM. That means if you’ve been craving a midnight walk, you can do so from Wednesday evening. Enjoy!

2. Amount of people allowed in the home increased to two

For months we’ve been limited to one visitor in the home. From Wednesday, April 28 that number doubles to two visitors per day. This is strong advice, but not a legal requirement. 

“I realise that two people are still not many, but this is very important because most infections still occur at home,” says Rutte. 

3. Terraces are allowed to reopen

Say goodbye to all that takeaway food: from Wednesday, April 28 terraces are allowed to reopen BUT only from 12 PM until 6 PM. There’s a maximum of 50 people allowed per terrace, health questions must be asked on arrival, your contact details will be taken, and a reservation must be made — but you are allowed to reserve on the spot. 

There must also be 1.5 metres between each table unless physical barriers are in place, and a maximum of two people on one table unless they are from the same household. 

4. You can visit non-essential shops without an appointment

A spot of window shopping turning into a big purchase? Why not! In this new world, you’ll be able to visit non-essential shops without making an appointment in advance. Hoera!

Rutte has asked people to shop alone as much as possible and advised that a mask is mandatory. There’s also still a maximum number of visitors per shop: for small stores, two people per floor, and for larger shops one customer per 25 square metres. 

5. Higher education students return to the classroom one day per week

Student rejoice! It may not be the student life we are all dreaming of, but from Monday 26 university and HBO students can return to campus one day per week. They must adhere to regular measures and will be able to access self-tests from May. 

6. Number of people at funerals increase, motor theory exams become possible again

Finally, the number of people allowed at a funeral will increase from 50 to 100, and theory exams for cars, motorbikes, boats etc. will be allowed to take place once again from April 26. 

Basic measures more important than ever

Rutte has cautioned that the new opening plan is “careful steps.” By summer, the government would like to say goodbye to most of the coronavirus measures. Rutte isn’t sure when each step will occur, but says responsible risks will need to be taken. 

Rutte repeated once again that basic rules like washing hands have become more important than ever. “If we follow those as best as we can we all help to make this first step more successful.” 

“It’s a balancing act. We need to be very careful,” says Rutte. “Society wants the start of the end, the road back to normalcy.”

He took care to mention that healthcare workers are still dealing with full beds and will remain that way for a while. “Again, a balancing act,” he said. 

Ready to reopen, or a political move? 

So what has caused the sudden relaxation? Not a drop in figures, that’s for sure. The RIVM reported over 53,000 infections over the past week and 146 deaths. Rutte addressed this, saying the changes were “just enough.” According to him, the curve is flattening and data from the RIVM shows that now is a responsible enough time to take that first step. 

However, the relaxation of measures has been criticised by the Outbreak Management Team (OMT). The RIVM’s Aura Timen called the changes a “political decision.” “It is important that we relax when we are in the declining leg of the epidemic. We are not there at the moment,” she says. 

What’s coming next? 

Are we on the road back to normal life? (what even is that again?) Well, if we believe Rutte, we could be. Next up, he’s hoping to broaden the measures for the hospitality industry, recognising that they probably wanted more from this evening’s announcements. “It’s a very rough time for them, but this is the first step,” he sympathised. 

“We can’t do everything at once. We tried that in summer last year and it was not a good idea. We have to make decisions,” says Rutte. Gyms will also remain closed for the time being.

What do you think of the latest announcements by the Dutch government? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

Feature Image: DutchReview/Screenshot

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