The National Immunisation Programme (NIP) in the Netherlands is very effective. Organisation
Schedule
Vaccination Coverage
Organisation
Vaccination of a large part of the population in the Netherlands against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) was introduced in 1952. The NIP was started in 1957 offering DTP and inactivated polio vaccination in a programmatic approach to all children born from 1945 onwards.
Vaccinations within the NIP in the Netherlands are administered to the target population free of charge and on a voluntary basis. In 2007 the 50-year jubilee of the government-funded Dutch NIP was celebrated. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports (VWS) decides on vaccination policy. The Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb) of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) is responsible for the coordination of the NIP. The Dutch Health Council is the body to advise the ministry on changes of the programme such as the inclusion of new vaccines based on new scientific data. CIb supports this process by providing insight in the epidemiological situation, changes in the composition of pathogen population, vaccination coverage, and immune status. In addition, future strategies are explored by mathematical modelling and scenario analysis. Schedule
Vaccination of a large part of the population in the Netherlands against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) was introduced in 1952. The NIP was started in 1957 offering DTP and inactivated polio vaccination in a programmatic approach to all children born from 1945 onwards. Vaccinations within the NIP in the Netherlands are administered to the target population free of charge and on a voluntary basis. Vaccination against 11 infectious diseases is included in the programme. The vaccination schedule as in use on 1 January 2008 is displayed in the table. 
*For children of whom at least one parent was born in a country where hepatitis B is moderately or highly endemic and children of whom the mother tested positive for HBsAg. A combined DTaP-IPV/Hib including hepatitis B is used. Children from HBsAg positive mothers also receive a hepatitis B vaccination within 48 hours after birth. DKTP: D = Diphteria, K = Whooping Cough, T = Tetanus, P = Polio-myelitis
HIB = Haemophilus influenzae type B
BMR = Mumps, Measles, Rubella (German Measles)
Men C = Meningitis C
Pneu = Pneumococcal vaccination
HPV = Human Papilloma VirusHIB vaccinations are only for children born after 01-04-1993
Men C vaccination is only for children born after 01-06-2001
Hep B vaccinations are only for children born after 01-01-2003
Pneumococcal vaccinations are only for children born after 01-04-2006
HPV vaccinations are only for girls
Vaccine coverage
Over the years the national immunisation coverage in the Netherlands has proven to be excellent. In 2005 national coverage levels for almost all vaccines used in the Netherlands exceeded the 95% level and meet the standards provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Almost all Dutch provinces reported over 90% immunization coverage for all vaccines used. Exceptions were found in a special region, the so-called ‘Bible-belt’ where groups of orthodox reformed people live who refuse vaccination for religious reasons. The ‘Bible-belt’-region covers parts of Zeeland, Zuid-Holland, Utrecht, Gelderland, Overijssel, and Flevoland shown in red in the figure. To maintain high vaccine coverage the CIb supplies information on the NIP for the Dutch public (http://www.rivm.nl/rvp) and for professionals (www.rivm.nl/cib/themas/rvp). 
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