In 2023, more people in the Netherlands contracted a disease that is vaccinated against through the National Vaccination Program (NVP National Vaccination Program (National Vaccination Program)) than in 2022. This is due to the fact that there were still corona measures in place during part of 2022, such as maintaining distance.
Development of Infectious Diseases
The NVP National Vaccination Program (National Vaccination Program) surveillance report shows how the thirteen infectious diseases that are vaccinated against through the NVP are progressing in the Netherlands. The report describes how severe the diseases are and how well the vaccinations work. This is done by checking how many people have become ill and how many have had to go to the hospital. The report compares these figures with the same figures from previous years and from other countries.
The report also contains information about infectious diseases for which vaccines exist, but for which there is currently no vaccination through the NVP. Such as the RS virus Respiratory Syncytial Virus (Respiratory Syncytial Virus).
Many Reports of Whooping Cough
Whooping cough, mumps, and diphtheria were more common in 2023 than in 2022. Especially for whooping cough, the number of reports increased enormously: from 129 in 2022 to 2,894 in 2023. This increase continued into the first four months of 2024, reaching unprecedented heights. Whooping cough was most common among children up to 12 months and teenagers.
The number of measles cases was similar to 2022 with seven reports. However, this increased to 75 in the first four months of 2024. Most reports came from the Eindhoven region.
Fewer Meningococcal Diseases than Before the Pandemic
Meningococcal disease can cause meningitis or sepsis. The number of people with meningococcal disease was higher in 2023 than in 2022, but still slightly lower than before the corona pandemic. The majority of cases, as in previous years, were due to an infection with the meningococcal bacteria type B. The vaccination against this type is not included in the NVP. The NVP protects against types A, C, W, and Y. Within these types, the number of cases increased from seven to twelve.
Changes in the National Vaccination Program
Starting January 1, 2024, babies will receive a vaccination against the rotavirus when they are 6 to 9 weeks old. At 3 months, they will receive the second one. Additionally, babies born after January 1, 2024, will receive vaccinations against whooping cough and pneumococci one month later: at 12 months instead of at 11 months. From January 1, 2025, there will be three more vaccination moments changed. These adjustments to the vaccination schedule help to better protect children.
Reports per Disease from 2020 to 2023
Disease | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Whooping Cough | 941 | 74 | 129 | 2894 |
Mumps | 64 | 1 | 7 | 91 |
Pneumococci | (approximately) 1,500 | (approximately) 1,350 | (approximately) 2200 | (approximately) 2250 |
Measles | 2 | 0 | 6 | 7 |
Rubella | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Polio | 0 | 0 | 1* | 0 |
Diphtheria | 3 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Tetanus | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
Meningococci ACWY | 22 | 5 | 7 | 12 |
Acute Hepatitis B | 95 | 72 | 80 | 90 |
Chronic/Unknown Hepatitis B | 714 | 743 | 815 | 858 |
Haemophilus influenzae type b | 68 | 68 | 57 | 51 |
Rotavirus | 350 | 882 | 1391 | 959 |
* asymptomatic infection