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The National Immunisation Programme in the Netherlands: surveillance and developments in 2022-2023.

Afrian, A., Beek, J. van, Beld, M.J.C. van de, Benincà, E., Benschop, K.S.M., Berry, D.S.F., Binnendijk, R.S. van, Blomont-Frederick, S., Bodewes, R., Boer, M.C., Boer, P. de, Boven, M. van, Brouwer, J.G.M., Bruijn, S. de, Brummelman, J., Buisman, A., Charldorp, T.C. van, Coul, E. op de, Cremer, J., Davies, M.A., Duijster, J.W., Duizer, E., Els, C.A.C.M. van, Freudenburg-de Graaf, W., Friesema, I.H.M., Garcia Vilaplana, T., Gier, B. de, Gordon, T., Hagen, C.C.E. van, Hahné, S.J.M., Hartog, G. den, Hubert, H., Huiberts, A., Hoeve, C.E., Hof, S. van den, Hofstee, M.I., Hooiveld, M., Iersel, S. van, Jongenotter, F., Kaaijk, P., Kaczorowska, J., Kampshoff, C., Kassteele, J. van de, Kasteren, P.B. van, Kemmeren, J.M., King, A.J., Klis, F.R.M. van der, Knijff, M., Knol, M.J., Kusters, J.M.A., Lanooij, S.J., Lier, E.A. van, Lista-de Weever, E., Mariman, R., Maxwell, A.A.A., McDonald, S., Meijberg, A., Meijer, A., Meijeren, D.L. van, Melker, H.E. de, Middeldorp, M., Miellet, W., Neppelenbroek, N., Niessen, F.A., Notermans, D.W., Pijnacker, R., Pluijmaekers, A.J.M., Roekel, C. van, Rolink, M., Rots, N.Y., Ruijs, W.L.M., Slobbe, J.F. van, Smagge, B.A., Sorge, N.M. van, Steens, A., Teelen, S., Teirlinck, A.C., Valk, A., Vanhommerig, J.W., Vennema, H., Verheul, M.K., Visser, L.J., Vos, E.R.A., Voskuil, P.H., Vries, M. de, Wijmenga-Monsuur, A.J., Wit, J. de, Wong, D., Woudenberg, T. The National Immunisation Programme in the Netherlands: surveillance and developments in 2022-2023. Bilthoven: RIVM, 2023. 420 p.

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Synopsis

Every year, RIVM tracks how many people fall ill due to a disease that is included in the National Immunisation Programme (NIP). In 2022, more people in the Netherlands got such a disease than in 2021. This is very likely due to the COVID-19 control measures, such as social distancing, being lifted.

As was the case in 2021, no people contracted rubella in 2022. The other diseases that did not occur in 2021, returned in 2022. This is the case for diphtheria (7), measles (6), polio (1), and tetanus (2). Pertussis (129) and mumps (7) occurred more often in 2022 than in 2021, but less often than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Invasive pneumococcal disease also occurred less often in 2022 than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number of notifications for meningococcal disease caused by serotype W (2) decreased further since 2018. This is mainly because since that same year, the vaccination against this type of meningococcus is also being given to teenagers. The number of Haemophilus influenzaetype b (Hib) reports was slightly lower in 2022 (59) than in 2021 (68). The number of children younger than 5 years of age that became very ill because of an Hib infection, did increase (26 in 2021, 29 in 2022), also when compared to the years before the COVID-19 pandemic (39 in 2019, of which 17 younger than 5 years of age).

The number of chronic hepatitis B notifications (815) was higher than in 2022, but lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic: between 2014 and 2019, about 1,000-1,100 people heard they had this disease.

In 2022, at least 1,041,632 children were vaccinated as part of the NIP. They received a total of at least 2,619,654 vaccinations. Also, at least 114,839 pregnant women received a vaccination that protects their baby immediately after birth against, amongst others, whooping cough. This is the maternal pertussis vaccination.

Based on advise by the Health Council of the Netherlands and starting from October 2023, maternal influenza vaccination is offered to pregnant women during the influenza season. Additionally, young babies born on or after 1 January 2024, receive a vaccine against rotavirus. Persons aged 15 or over receive only 2 doses of the HPV vaccine instead of 3, starting from September 2022.

Vaccination against COVID-19 works well to prevent severe illness and death, but the protection slowly decreases. Booster- and repat vaccinations increase protection again.