Pandemic hit vulnerable groups the hardest

On March 5, 2024 ZonMw organized a scientific congress on excess mortality in times of corona. Research shows that excess mortality occurred in every age group but particularly affected the elderly and vulnerable groups. Medical Director of the PDCP Anja Schreijer is a member of ZonMw’s supervisory committee on excess mortality during the pandemic.

Within the PDPC academy, research is also being done on vulnerable groups. In the Underserved Groups project, barriers and drivers are mapped in order to design tailored interventions especially for vulnerable groups. The goal is to be better prepared for the next pandemic. In doing so, we seek to contribute to improved health outcomes and addressing health inequities. The Volkskrant also recently devoted an article to access to care during the pandemic: “The loss of access to care was not evenly distributed.”