Rubella is called ‘rodehond’ in Dutch. It is a highly contagious disease caused by the rubella virus. Usually, you do not become very ill. The virus spreads through coughing and sneezing. The virus is especially dangerous for pregnant women because it can lead to miscarriage or severe birth defects in their unborn child. Children receive 2 vaccinations against rubella, at 14 months and at the age of 9.

Hepatitis B is an inflammation of the liver caused by infection with the hepatitis B virus. It can be transmitted from mother to child at birth, through sexual contact or through contact with infected blood. Children who have contracted hepatitis B are at particular risk of becoming chronic carriers of the virus. Children receive a vaccination against hepatitis B four times before their first birthday.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious infection with a bacterium. The bacterium can be transmitted through coughing or by touching. Usually, you become ill 2 to 5 days after infection. The bacterium often damages tissue, such as the skin or lungs. Before there was a vaccination against diphtheria in the Netherlands, many children died. It is included in the Dutch National Immunisation Programme. 

Tetanus, also known as lockjaw or trismus, is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. As soon as the bacterium (which can be found in street refuse, for example) enters an open wound, a tetanus infection can be contracted. Since 1954, children have been receiving a vaccination against tetanus, 4 times before their first birthday and at the ages of 4 and 9.

Hib stands for Haemophilus influenzae type b, a bacterium that occurs occasionally in the nasal cavity of almost all people. The bacterium usually does not pose a danger and you do not become ill or it remains limited to a runny nose, strep throat, ear infection or sinusitis. In young children, the infection can be serious and cause pneumonia, meningitis or a life-threatening throat infection. The vaccination against Hib diseases has been part of the National Immunisation Programme since 1993. Children receive four vaccinations against Hib before their first birthday.

Mumps is an infectious disease. In Dutch, it is called ‘de bof’ (B). Mumps is caused by a virus that is spread through the air. People can infect each other by sneezing and coughing. Before the vaccination against mumps was introduced, approximately 85% of the people contracted the mumps. The mumps frequently caused meningitis and deafness. The MMR vaccination was introduced in 1987. Children receive 2 vaccinations, at 14 months and at the age of 9.

Whooping cough is dangerous for babies. You can protect your baby from whooping cough by getting vaccinated yourself during your pregnancy. This vaccination is called the 22-week vaccination or maternal whooping cough vaccination. What is whooping cough? Whooping cough is also known as pertussis or the ‘100-day cough’. This extremely contagious disease is caused by a bacterial infection. The infection leads to severe coughing fits, which can persist for months. Infants may struggle to breathe well and could actually stop breathing for a few seconds. Dangerous for babies Whooping cough can be extremely dangerous for babies. They may get pneumonia or develop brain damage, and could even die from the disease. Nearly 170 infants end up in the hospital with whooping cough every year.  Newborns are not protected Infants and young children are vaccinated against whooping cough. However, they cannot get their first vaccinations until they are a few months old. That means that newborns and very young infants are not yet protected against whooping cough during the first few months. And that is precisely when they are most vulnerable. How can you protect your baby? You can get vaccinated against whooping cough yourself during your pregnancy. That ensures that your baby will be protected from the moment they enter the world. You can get the shot from the 22-second week of your pregnancy. That is why it is known as the 22-week vaccination or maternal whooping cough vaccination. How does it work? After you are vaccinated, your body makes antibodies. These antibodies are shared with your unborn baby via the placenta. As a result, your baby will have enough antibodies to protect against whooping cough for the first few months, until your baby gets his or her first vaccination. The vaccine protects your baby, but it also protects you. You won’t be able to get whooping cough or infect others. Make an appointment You can get vaccinated at a JGZ-organisation in your neighbourhood.  Be sure to make an appointment online at www.22wekenprik.nl What does it cost? The 22-week vaccination is free of charge and is offered by the National Immunisation Programme.      Information materials Brochures on the 22-week vaccination are available in several languages: Arabic, English, Polish, Turkish and Ukrainian on the website www.rijksvaccinatieprogramma.nl/english.

In recent years, between 10 and 20  cases of measles were reported per year. In 2019, the number of measles cases in the Netherlands was over 80.  In the Netherlands, a measles epidemic occurred from May 2013 until March 2014 in municipalities with low vaccine coverage (below 90 per cent) against measles. Many of the people living in these areas belong to the Dutch Orthodox Reformed Church. For religious reasons, they do not have their children vaccinated. 2,700 patients with measles have been reported. Because not everyone who had measles went to the doctor, the actual number of patients, however, was much higher. During the epidemic, 182 children were hospitalised and one child deceased from complications of measles. Children aged 6 months with an increased risk of being infected with measles were provided complementary vaccination against measles. This applied only to children who lived in communities with low vaccine coverage.   In the Netherlands, we expect a major epidemic once every 10 to 15 years. Because someone who has had measles is protected against the disease for the rest of their lives, we do not expect a major epidemic (yet).