The controversial 'corona pass' left deep scars: GGD says measure still reduces vaccinations

The introduction of the 'corona pass' in the Netherlands, mandated for access to public spaces like cafes and restaurants since September 2021, has left deep scars, fostering persistent distrust among parts of the population. GGD (Community Health Services) officials and researchers indicate that this lingering skepticism contributes to the vaccination rate remaining lower than before the pandemic.

Starting this month, the corona pass and related vaccination policies are central to the sixth week of public hearings in the parliamentary inquiry into the pandemic. Key figures, including former State Secretary for Economic Affairs Mona Keijzer and ex-Minister of Health Hugo de Jonge, are scheduled to testify. Coronacritic Maurice de Hond is also expected to present his views.

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The concept suddenly became: you only get access to something based on your status.

The corona access system required individuals to prove vaccination, a recent negative test, or recovery from COVID-19 to enter venues. For the unvaccinated, this measure significantly restricted their freedom of movement. The policy was controversial from its inception. The Royal Dutch Hospitality Association opposed it, and Amsterdam's mayor, Femke Halsema, stated she would only enforce compliance in "extreme cases." State Secretary Keijzer was dismissed from the cabinet in September 2021 by Prime Minister Mark Rutte due to her criticism of the pass.

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People who did not get vaccinated felt truly pushed out of society; that's how they experienced it. You get a stamp on your forehead.

Resistance among the unvaccinated was widespread; research indicated that only 3% supported the introduction of the corona pass. "The concept suddenly became: you only get access to something based on your status," explained Putri Hintaran, a GGD infectious disease control physician. "People who did not get vaccinated felt truly pushed out of society; that's how they experienced it. You get a stamp on your forehead."

Hintaran and a colleague conducted research from 2024 into the declining vaccination rates in the Utrecht region. Their report identified a significant increase in distrust towards the government during the pandemic as a primary cause. GGD doctors noted that many unvaccinated individuals felt "marginalized or put in a box" during the COVID-19 period. This feeling, they stated, has left lasting impressions. In numerous conversations with parents who refuse vaccinations for their children against diseases like measles or polio, the topic of COVID-19 repeatedly surfaced, suggesting its continued impact on vaccination decisions.

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It fell on my notice that it was mentioned every time.