The Health Council of the Netherlands has published an advisory report on booster vaccination of adolescents. The Health Council concludes that there are currently no medical reasons to offer a booster vaccination to people aged 12-17 years in the context of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. However, the Council recommends offering the option for booster vaccination in individual cases for severely immunocompromised adolescents and for adolescents who want a booster to protect vulnerable family members.

Read the full advisory report (in Dutch):  Advisory report: Booster vaccination of adolescents against COVID-19 (20220209)

The Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) has adopted the advisory opinion not to offer a booster vaccination to young people aged 12-17 years in the context of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. The Minister will provide another update once the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has reached a decision regarding approval of a booster vaccination for the age group of 12-17 years. 

Read the letter to Parliament (in Dutch): Letter to Parliament about booster vaccination of people aged 12-17 years | Parliamentary Papers | Rijksoverheid.nl

The implementation guidelines (in Dutch)  for COVID-19 vaccination have been updated. The latest version of the implementation guidelines is always available online (in Dutch).

Update: E-learning module on COVID-19 vaccination 

The e-learning module on COVID-19 vaccination has been available online since the end of 2020. A large number of participants have completed the e-learning module since then. The counter now stands at 40,000 participants!

Supplementing this basic e-learning module, 2 sub-modules are now being launched: 1) the route for booster vaccination and 2) the route for vaccination of children aged 5-11 years. These sub-modules provide a brief overview of the core elements of each route. They can be used as a short review after completing the basic e-learning module and/or as a separate refresher course on that specific route if the basic e-learning module was completed some time ago. Completing a module takes a maximum of 30 minutes. The application for accreditation has been filed.

The e-learning module can be accessed at: NSPOH: Login; after registration, the E-learning module is available for free.

Enlarged lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) is a known side-effect of the COVID-19 vaccines. Relatively speaking, this side-effect is reported more often than other side-effects after the booster vaccination, compared to the first and second doses in the primary course of vaccinations. In addition, the side-effect emerges more quickly after vaccination, persists for a bit longer, and causes more discomfort for people reporting this side-effect. See: Enlarged lymph nodes relatively more common after COVID-19 booster vaccination (LAREB.nl)(in Dutch)

The latest overview of adverse events following immunisation is available on the website of Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb:  Adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines (lareb.nl)(in Dutch)

Everyone living in the Netherlands who wanted to be vaccinated against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has had a chance to do so. Everyone has also had the opportunity to get a booster vaccination after that. However, not everyone has been vaccinated. The Corona Behavioural Unit at RIVM has listed the reasons why these people would consider getting vaccinated after all (shown in order of frequency).

1. If more information was available on how the current vaccines work, how effective they are and what side-effects they cause.
2. If policies restricting freedoms were introduced
3. If a different vaccine becomes available
4. If there are changes in their own health situation
5. If confidence in the government and official institutions is restored
6. If the threat caused by the virus increases
7. If freedom of choice returns

See: Reasons to get vaccinated after all (in Dutch)