Fewer whooping cough antibodies if vaccination occurs before 24th week of pregnancy
Babies develop fewer antibodies against pertussis (whooping cough) if the mother is given the pertussis vaccine before the 24th week of pregnancy. These findings are from a multi-year study carried out by RIVM among preterm and full-term babies and their mothers.
PhD research shows: ‘repeating vaccination promotes whooping cough resistance’
Repeating vaccination promotes whooping cough resistance. This is evidenced by the PhD research conducted by Pauline Versteegen. She researched post-vaccination immunity to whooping cough in age groups from 7 to 70 years. On Tuesday 28 May, she was awarded her doctoral degree at Utrecht University.
Many serious cases of whooping cough among newborn babies in the Netherlands
The number of newborn babies in the Netherlands who are seriously ill due to whooping cough has been increasingly rapidly in recent weeks. About 110 confirmed cases of whooping cough are now being diagnosed every week among children in the Netherlands, including nearly 20 infants.
Vaccination coverage increases for second consecutive year, by 10% for HPV
The percentage of children receiving vaccinations from the National Immunisation Programme rose again last year. Another striking note is the 10% increase in HPV vaccination, rising to 63%.
Report on the developments of the National Immunisation Programme: national immunisation coverage increased slightly for the first time in five years
National immunisation coverage has increased for the first time in five years, for almost all vaccinations. For children born in 2017, vaccination coverage against mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) increased by 0.7% to 93.6%.
A pregnant woman can protect her baby against whooping cough with 22-week vaccination
From 16 December 2019, pregnant women in the Netherlands will be offered the 22-week vaccination. With this vaccination, a pregnant woman protects her child and herself against whooping cough.
