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The National Immunisation Programme in the Netherlands : surveillance and developments in 2019-2020.

Benschop, K.S.M., Benthem, B.H.B. van, Berbers, G.A.M., Binnendijk, R. van, Bodewes, R., Bogaards, J.A., Bruijning-Verhagen, P., Buisman, A., Cremer, J., Duizer, E., Eer, K. van, Els, C.A.C.M. van, Freudenburg-de Graaf, W., Friesema, I.H.M., Gier, B. de, Hartog, G. den, Heiningen, F. van, Hoek, W. van der, Hoes, J., Hooiveld, M., Hulshof, H.K., Kaaijk, P., Kassteele, J. van de, Kasteren, P.B. van, Kemmeren, J.M., King, A.J., Klis, F.R.M. van der, Knol, M.J., Lagerweij, G.R., Lier, E.A. van, Luytjes, W., Maas, N.A.T. van der, Mariman, R., McDonald, S., Meijer, A., Melker, H. de, Middeldorp, M., Miellet, W., Mollema, L., Nielen, M., Notermans, D.W., Ohm, M., Oostdijk, C., Pasmans, H., Pijnacker, R., Pinelli Ortiz, E., Reubsaet, F.A.G., Rikkengaa, E., Rooyer, F., Rots, N.Y., Ruijs, W.L.M., Schurink-van 't Klooster, T.M., Shah, A.A., Slobbe, J. van, Sorge, N.M. van, Suijkerbuijk, A.W.M., Sunderland, A., Teirlinck, A.C., Trzcinski, K., Veldhuijzen, I.K., Vennema, H., Vries, M. de, Visser, L., Visser, M., Vos, R.A., Wennekes, M.D., Zoonen, K. van. The National Immunisation Programme in the Netherlands : surveillance and developments in 2019-2020. Bilthoven: RIVM, 2020.

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Synopsis
The National Immunisation Programme in the Netherlands
Surveillance and developments in 2019-2020

Under the National Immunisation Programme (NIP), 1,520,301 children and pregnant women
were vaccinated in the Netherlands in 2019. Together, they received a total of 2,929,264
vaccinations. National immunisation coverage rose slightly for the first time in five years.
In 2019, there were no notifications for diphtheria, tetanus, rubella, and polio. As in previous
years, the number of notifications was low for Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib; 39). The
number of measles notifications was relatively high (84). The number of mumps cases (131)
was double the number reported in the previous year. The number of notifications of hepatitis
B (1205) remained stable.
The number of notifications of meningococcal W disease (62) decreased after introduction of
MenACWY-vaccination into the NIP (for 14-month-olds and 14-year-olds). This ended the rise
in notifications from 2015 to 2018 (from 9 to 103). The number of pertussis notifications (6383)
increased compared with 2018. Since the end of 2019, pregnant women are vaccinated against
pertussis to prevent severe pertussis in infants.
From March 2020 to June, during the Dutch COVID-19 response measures, including
social distancing and school closure, the reported incidence of pertussis, invasive
pneumococcal disease, meningococcal disease and mumps dropped.
The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport has decided in April 2020 to cancel the
implementation of rotavirus vaccination for children with an high risk for severe disease in the
NIP. A new study showed lower vaccine-effectiveness estimates for high-risk infants than
expected. The ministry asked for a new advise of the Health Council, which is expected in 2021.
In 2020, the intention was to offer pneumococcal vaccination to elderly 60, 65, 70 and 75 years
of age. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, priority in this year has been given to the
oldest age groups (73- to 79-year-olds).