Developments in terms of infectious diseases

The NIP Surveillance Report outlines the situation in the Netherlands with respect to the 12 infectious diseases for which vaccines are offered under the NIP. The report describes the severity of the diseases and the effectiveness of the vaccines. This is done by looking at various data points, including how many people fell ill and how often they had to go to the hospital. The report compares these data to the same data from previous years and from other countries.
It also includes information on infectious diseases not currently covered by the NVP, such as those caused by the rotavirus and the respiratory syncytial virus.

Slight increase in 2022

In 2022, pertussis (whooping cough), mumps, pneumococcal disease and hepatitis B occurred more frequently than in 2021, but less frequently than in the years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some diseases that did not occur at all in 2021 reappeared in 2022, namely diphtheria, measles and tetanus. Diphtheria affected underage asylum seekers in particular. Nevertheless, the number of reported cases of these infectious diseases was lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Decrease in meningococcal disease type W

Some diseases experienced a decrease in 2022, such as meningococcal disease type W. The number of reported cases has decreased significantly in recent years since the vaccination was added to the NIP for 14-year-olds in 2020, following an outbreak among teenagers. Meningococcal disease can lead to meningitis or sepsis.

Haemophilus influenzae type b

The number of cases of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) also decreased in 2022. However, this was not the case for children under the age of five. This age group did show an increase in Hib cases, even compared to the years before the coronavirus pandemic (16 cases in 2019, 26 in 2021, 29 in 2022). Hib is a bacterium found in the nasal passages of nearly all people. If the bacterium enters the bloodstream or the nervous system, it can cause severe illnesses such as meningitis, sepsis or severe pneumonia.

Changes in the National Immunisation Programme

Since February 2022, both girls and boys are invited for vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) when they turn 10. Additionally, in 2022 and 2023, there was a catch-up campaign for young people born between 1996 and 2003 who had not yet been fully vaccinated against HPV.
In 2021, the Health Council of the Netherlands recommended inviting more risk groups for a flu vaccination, including pregnant women. Starting in 2023, pregnant women can get the flu vaccine from youth healthcare services, where they can also get the 22-week vaccination against whooping cough.
Babies born after 1 January 2024 will receive an invitation for vaccination against the rotavirus.

Reported cases per disease in 2019–2022

Disease	2019	2020	2021	2022
Whooping cough	6,383	941	74	129
Mumps	131	64	1	7
Pneumococcal disease	(approx.) 2,400	(approx.) 1,500	(approx.) 1,350	(approx.) 2,200
Measles	84	2	0	6
Rubella	0	0	0	0
Polio	0	0	0	1*
Diphtheria	1	3	0	7
Tetanus	0	2	0	2
Meningococcal disease type W	62	12	4	2
Hepatitis B, acute	104	95	72	80
Hepatitis B, chronic	1,101	714	743	815
Haemophilus influenzae type b	39	68	68	57

 * Asymptomatic infection