MASS VACCINATIONS: Making vaccinations accessible was vital for ensuring mass vaccination campaigns were successful in reaching populations so that countries could return to normal and travel across borders could resume. An important component of this was ensuring that people could get to the vaccination centers using preferred and realistic local transportation modes. Here in the Netherlands, the bicycle is a common mode of transportation. In this study we examined how accessible these vaccination centers were by bicycle. Watch the video and listen to the podcast below
The video, part of the series "Tackling Global Challenges with GIS," presents research focused on accessibility of COVID-19 vaccination centers in the Netherlands, specifically focusing on how easily the population could reach these centers by bicycle, a common mode of transport in the country. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and publicly available data, the researchers measured accessibility at two points in time: when 193 vaccination centers were open and later when the number was reduced to 99 centers. The study found that accessibility significantly decreased after the closures, falling from 45% of the population within a 20-minute bike ride to 28%, with the elderly population being the most negatively affected group. The authors conclude that these findings underscore the need for policymakers to use strategic models to ensure the equitable distribution and location of vital health services.
To hear more about this research listen to the podcast.
This podcast presents research focused on accessibility of COVID-19 vaccination centers in the Netherlands, specifically focusing on how easily the population could reach these centers by bicycle, a common mode of transport in the country. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and publicly available data, the researchers measured accessibility at two points in time: when 193 vaccination centers were open and later when the number was reduced to 99 centers. The study found that accessibility significantly decreased after the closures, falling from 45% of the population within a 20-minute bike ride to 28%, with the elderly population being the most negatively affected group. The authors conclude that these findings underscore the need for policymakers to use strategic models to ensure the equitable distribution and location of vital health services.
Sources
Al-Huraibi, A., Amer, S., Blanford, J.I. (2023) Cycling to get my vaccination: how accessible are COVID-19 vaccination centers in the Netherlands? AGILE: GIScience Series, 4, 16, 2023. https://doi.org/10.5194/agile-giss-4-16-2023.