Dutch court: Requirements of Virus Truth in the context of vaccination policy rejected
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The Court of Appeal of The Hague ruled on Tuesday in summary proceedings that the Viruswaarheid Foundation had filed against the State about the COVID-19 vaccination policy. According to Virus Truth, government information and communication about vaccinations and types of vaccines against COVID-19 is flawed and misleading. Virus truth also finds it illegal that the State does not offer citizens a free choice for a brand of vaccine. The Hague Court of Appeal does not agree with Virus Truth in all this.
The Court of Appeal does not find the name 'vaccine' for the preventive agents against COVID-19 marketed in the Netherlands misleading. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Health Council also use this terminology for preventive agents that contain a piece of genetic information, such as the mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna and the vector vaccines from AstraZeneca and Janssen. Each of these vaccines has been tested for safety and efficacy in a group of at least 24,000 people. All information about the State's vaccination policy can be found on or via the website of the national government. It also discusses the differences between the types of vaccines, their effect, the possible side effects and the degree of protection against COVID-19.
The court also agrees with the preliminary relief judge that there is no freedom of choice for a brand of vaccine for the time being. This is not only due to the existing scarcity of certain vaccines, but also to the differences in suitability for certain age or risk groups, the changing quantities and timetables of deliveries and the different requirements with regard to transport and distribution, storage conditions and method of administration.