Who could benefit from vaccination against pneumococcal disease?

Children, older people and people with specific health conditions (such as people taking immunosuppressant medicine) have a higher risk of becoming seriously ill from pneumococcal disease. These people could benefit from vaccination against pneumococcal disease.

• Children
  All children are offered a vaccination against pneumococcal disease through the National Immunisation Programme(link is external) at the ages of 3, 5 and 12 months.
• People aged 60 years and older 
  People aged 60 years and older are offered a vaccination against pneumococcal disease free of charge through the GP or through a healthcare institution. However, not everyone is eligible for this vaccination at the same time. Every year, a specific age group of people over 60 are invited to get the vaccination. In autumn 2025, an invitation to get the vaccination against pneumococcal disease will be sent to people aged 60 years (born in 1965), and to people aged 78 and older (born in 1947 or before).
• Medical risk groups
  Some people have health conditions that cause a higher risk of serious illness due to pneumococcal disease. This includes:
  • people with impaired spleen function or without a spleen (such as people who have sickle cell anaemia)
  • people with cochlear implants
  • people with a brain fluid leak (CSF leak)
  • people who have had bacterial meningitis
  • people with impaired immunity who have less effective resistance to disease
  • people who have lung damage due to COVID-19 and suffer from chronic respiratory symptoms as a result
    These people can arrange to be vaccinated through their treating physician (medical specialist).
• Other people

If you are not in one of these groups, you can be vaccinated at your own request. You will need to pay for this yourself. Not everyone needs a vaccination against pneumococcal disease. That depends on various factors, including your health. Ask your doctor or GP if you could benefit from a pneumococcal vaccine.

Various vaccines against pneumococcal disease are authorised for use in the Netherlands. See a list of all the pneumococcal vaccines authorised in the Netherlands(link is external) (in Dutch).

How effective is the vaccine against pneumococcal disease?

Vaccination offers protection against severe illness resulting from pneumococcal disease.

How well it works is called vaccine effectiveness. That is measured by comparing people who have and have not been vaccinated. A vaccine is never 100% effective. This is because there are always people who do not respond to a vaccination at all, or not strongly enough.  The effectiveness of the various vaccines against pneumococcal disease depends in part on the age of the person being vaccinated.

In addition, there are always some types of pneumococci bacteria that are not covered by the vaccine. The main types that affect people are included in the vaccine. Each vaccine covers specific types.

Vaccinating children against pneumococcal disease through the National Immunisation Programme does not only help protect children from becoming ill. This vaccination also helps prevent children from spreading the types of pneumococci that they have been vaccinated against. That benefits older people as well. It lowers the risk that older people will become ill from these types of pneumococci. At the same time, there is an increase in other types of pneumococci that are not covered by the vaccine for children. As a result, the vaccines may eventually no longer offer sufficient protection against the types of pneumococci that are causing illness at that time.

What are possible side effects of vaccination against pneumococcal disease?

The safety of the pneumococcal vaccine has been tested extensively. Like all other vaccines that have been approved for use in the Netherlands, the vaccine may cause mild side effects. This is normal and can be expected after all vaccinations. Examples include redness, pain and swelling at the injection site. Other than that, the most common side effects are:

• fever
• muscle pain

Most symptoms are mild and go away on their own, usually within 3 days. There are no indications that the pneumococcal vaccine causes severe or permanent symptoms. It is possible that you could be allergic to specific ingredients in the vaccine. Severe allergic reactions to the vaccine are extremely rare.

For a complete overview of the side effects and ingredients, see the vaccine package leaflet.(link is external) Or visit the website of the Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb(link is external).

Is vaccination against pneumococcal disease covered by insurance?

Vaccination against pneumococcal disease is covered in full for children (in the context of the National Immunisation Programme) and for older people over 60. For others, vaccination against pneumococcal disease is not always covered by basic health insurance. However, some health insurers will cover the vaccination on the basis of supplementary health insurance. Check with your health insurer to see if you are insured for vaccination against pneumococcal disease.

Where can I get a vaccination against pneumococcal disease?

If you would like you or your child to be vaccinated against pneumococcal disease, you can contact the GP or your doctor, a vaccination centre, or the Municipal Public Health Service (GGD).