Repeat vaccination against COVID-19: risk groups first, then everyone 12 and up The first invitations for a repeat vaccination against COVID-19 will be received by people in the Netherlands on 13 September 2022. RIVM will invite the oldest people first, and will then send an invitation to everyone aged 60 years and older.
Nearly one quarter of the Dutch population suffers from stomach, liver and/or bowel problems In 2019, nearly one in four people in the Netherlands had visited their general practitioner for stomach, liver and/or bowel problems of a more or less serious nature.
Use of Salvia divinorum may have adverse health effects The use of Salvia divinorum may have adverse health effects. Among other things, it may lead to hallucinations, restlessness, confusion, elevated heart rate and blood pressure, and psychosis.
Almost half of 9 and 10-year-olds get HPV vaccination at first opportunity This spring, more than 800,000 young people received an invitation to be vaccinated against HPV, the human papillomavirus.
Risk of measles outbreaks increases with decreasing vaccination coverage Vaccination coverage for vaccinations in the Dutch National Vaccination Program (NIP) decreased slightly by about half a percent for the third consecutive year.
Alertness about the Zika virus still needed for pregnant women Since May 2015, there has been a Zika virus outbreak in South and Central America, including the Caribbean. The Zika virus can cause birth defects, including microcephaly (small head size).
More gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia at Dutch STI clinics An increasing number of clients tested at a Dutch STI clinic for a sexually transmitted infection (STI) is diagnosed with gonorrhoea, syphilis and chlamydia.
RIVM recommends hepatitis A vaccination for gay men There is a large international outbreak currently of hepatitis A, mostly among gay and bisexual men. In several European countries more than 1,000 patients have been reported.
Pneumonia occurs more often near livestock farms People who live near poultry farms and goat farms suffer from pneumonia more often. In the area surveyed, every year about 1650 people per 100,000 residents get pneumonia.
National Heat Plan active The National Heat Plan became active in the Netherlands on June 19th. This means that it is necessary to take preventive health measures for vulnerable groups.