Flu and flu vaccine

Flu occurs every year in the Netherlands, usually in the winter months. It is caused by the flu virus (influenza virus). The flu vaccine lowers the risk of getting flu. RIVM monitors the development of the flu virus in the Netherlands and conducts research into flu and the flu vaccine.

Flu

Influenza, or flu for short, is caused by the flu virus. It is an infectious respiratory disease. You can infect others by coughing and sneezing.

Flu vaccine

People aged 60 and over and people with certain conditions are especially at risk of becoming seriously ill with flu. These people can get a flu vaccine every year. The flu vaccine protects against serious consequences of flu.

Flu monitoring

RIVM monitors the development of the flu virus in various ways. We call this ‘surveillance’.

Professionals

Information about flu vaccines for healthcare workers, for flu vaccine campaign partners, diagnostics and treatment

Facts and figures

Grafiek aantallen griepachtig ziektebeeld

RIVM publishes weekly updates on the spread of the flu virus in the Netherlands.

Flu epidemic officially over

The flu epidemic that started halfway through December 2022 is now over. This is the conclusion drawn by experts of RIVM, Erasmus MC and the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (Nivel) on the basis of information supplied by GPs, hospitals and laboratories.

Persoon maakt zich klaar om de deur uit te gaan

Netherlands experiencing multiple respiratory viruses; now also flu epidemic

The Netherlands is experiencing a flu epidemic. The number of people with flu (influenza) increased significantly in the past two weeks. Laboratories, hospitals and GPs throughout the country report that the flu virus has been turning up in more throat and nasal samples from people with flu-like symptoms.

Griepepidemie - man ligt met zakdoek op bank

Start of invitations for the seasonal flu vaccination

The invitation for the seasonal flu vaccination will land on your doormat this autumn. The flu vaccination protects people who are more likely to become ill or seriously ill from flu because of their age or medical condition.

High rates of RSV in children over the summer, and a late flu epidemic in the 2021-2022 season

Hospitals reported an unusually large number of children presenting with RSV over the summer of 2

Seasonal flu epidemic in the Netherlands

The flu epidemic in the Netherlands has started. The number of people with flu (influenza) increased significantly in the past two weeks.

Flu epidemic seems to be emerging

More and more people in the Netherlands have the flu.

Flu jab for additional groups

The flu jab is offered free of charge every year to people aged 60 years and older, and to people who are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from the flu virus due to medical reasons

Last winter’s flu epidemic was short and mild. And then COVID-19 arrived.

The flu epidemic in the winter of 2019/2020 was mild and lasted only 5 weeks.

De griepepidemie in de winter van 2019/2020 was mild en duurde slechts 5 weken.

Mild 2018-2019 influenza epidemic

The annual influenza epidemic in the winter of 2018-2019 was less severe than the year before.

all

Flu

Flu vaccine

Flu monitoring

Professionals