There are vaccinations against various types of meningococci. Children are vaccinated against meningococcal disease types A, C, W and Y under the National Immunisation Programme. The meningococci type B vaccination is only reimbursed for people in certain medical risk groups. Others can obtain the meningococci vaccinations at their own expense.

You can find out more about this on this page:

MenACWY vaccination

What is the MenACWY vaccination?

The MenACWY vaccination protects against severe illness as a result of meningococci types A, C, W and Y.

Who could benefit from the MenACWY vaccination?

The MenACWY vaccination may be useful for several groups:

  • Children and young people.
  • People in certain medical risk groups, i.e. people who:
    • do not have a spleen, or whose spleen does not function properly
    • are planning to start taking drugs such as eculizumab
    • have a specific primary immunodeficiency (in Dutch)
    • have had a stem cell transplant
    • have cochlear implants
    • have had bacterial meningitis and have not previously been vaccinated against meningococcal disease
    • have cerebrospinal fluid leakage and have not previously been vaccinated against meningococcal disease
  • People travelling to Mecca. The MenACWY vaccination is mandatory before travelling to Mecca. For more information, please visit the website of the National Travel Safety Advice Coordination Centre (in Dutch).

Is the MenACWY vaccination free?

  • For children and young people, the MenACWY vaccination is free of charge under the National Immunisation Programme.
  • For travellers, the cost of the vaccination is sometimes reimbursed, depending on their health insurance policy.
  • Other people who wish to receive the MenACWY vaccination must pay for it themselves.

Where can I get a MenACWY vaccination?

If you want to get a MenACWY vaccination, you can make an appointment with your GP or a vaccination centre.

How well does the MenACWY vaccination work?

The MenACWY vaccination works well. For types C, W and Y, for every ten people who would contract severe meningococcal disease without vaccination, only one person is likely to contract the disease if vaccinated. It is not possible to make a statement for type A, as in the Netherlands no one has fallen ill from this type since 2004.

Possible side effects after MenACWY vaccination

The MenACWY vaccination is safe. However, there are many mild side effects. The most common side effects after MenACWY vaccination are:

  • pain, swelling or redness at the injection site
  • feeling ill
  • tiredness
  • flu-like symptoms, such as headache, muscle ache, fever, chills and nausea

These symptoms usually only last a few days.

A detailed description of possible side effects can be found in the package leaflet for the vaccine and on the site of the Netherlands pharmacovigilance centre Lareb.

MenB vaccination

What is the MenB vaccination?

The MenB vaccination protects against severe illness as a result of meningococcal disease type B.

Who could benefit from a MenB vaccination?

High risk: covered by health insurance

There are a few groups of people for whom the MenB vaccination would be beneficial, as they are at high risk of severe meningococcal disease. The MenB vaccination is covered by health insurance for people who:

  • have a congenital complement deficiency
  • are planning to start taking the drug eculizumab
  • do not have a spleen, or whose spleen does not function properly

If you are in one of these medical risk groups and want to receive a MenB vaccination, please discuss this with your treating physician. You may have to pay an excess.

Moderate risk: not covered by health insurance

The MenB vaccination may also be useful for people who:

  • have a specific primary immunodeficiency
  • have had a stem cell transplant
  • have cochlear implants
  • have had bacterial meningitis and have not previously been vaccinated against meningococcal disease
  • have cerebrospinal fluid leakage and have not previously been vaccinated against meningococcal disease

For these groups, the meningococcal vaccination is not reimbursed. Please speak to your doctor if you would like to have the MenB vaccination. You can make a vaccination appointment with your GP or a vaccination centre.

How effective is the MenB vaccine?

This vaccine generally provides good protection, but is not effective against all types of meningococci B that cause disease. Furthermore, it is not yet known for how long the vaccine provides protection.

Possible side effects of the MenB vaccination

The MenB vaccination is safe. However, there are some mild side effects, such as:

  • pain, swelling or redness at the injection site
  • feeling unwell
  • headache
  • cold chills
  • fatigue
  • muscle pain
  • joint pain
  • gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and diarrhoea

In children under the age of 2 years, (high) fever is a possible side effect, particularly if the child receives the MenB vaccination at the same time as another vaccination. You can give your child paracetamol just before or after the MenB vaccination. This significantly reduces the likelihood of young children developing a fever. The vaccine will still be effective.

A detailed description of possible side effects can be found in the package leaflet for the vaccine (search for Bexsero or Trumenba) and on the site of the Netherlands pharmacovigilance centre Lareb.