Apart from the National Immunisation Programme (Rijksvaccinatieprogramma or RVP), other vaccinations are also available to protect your child against infectious diseases. These vaccinations are often recommended to travellers or people who have a greater risk of consequences if they catch these diseases. But they can also offer additional protection to children in the Netherlands. These vaccinations are not free; you need to pay for them.

These are some other infectious diseases that children can be vaccinated against:

The DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV vaccination protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough (pertussis), polio, Hib disease and Hepatitis B. Children receive the vaccination at 3 months, 5 months and 12 months.

The DTaP vaccination protects against diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis) and tetanus. Children receive the injection from the age of 5 years. This is a repeat vaccination against these diseases. Before that, children received the DTaP-IPV - HBV vaccination at 3 months, 5 months and 12 months old. At the age of 14 years, children are given a repeat vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and polio (DT-IPV).

The DT-IPV vaccination protects against diphtheria, tetanus and polio. Children get the vaccination in the year they turn 14. This is a repeat vaccination against these diseases. The first vaccinations were given before the child’s first birthday. Children received a repeat vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (pertussis) from the age of 5.

In case you have a question about vaccinations from the National Vaccination Program, or about pregnancy screening or heel prick screening, you can contact one of the three regional offices of the Department for Vaccine Supply and Prevention Programmes. 

The MMR vaccination protects against mumps, measles and rubella. Children receive the MMR vaccination at 14 months, and a repeat vaccination around 3 years. It is possible to get the MMR vaccination sooner, for example if you are planning to travel outside the Netherlands.

The DTaP vaccination protects pregnant women and their babies against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (pertussis). Pregnant women can get vaccinated from the 22nd week of the pregnancy up until delivery. That is why it is known as the 22-week vaccination. Although it is also called the maternal whooping cough vaccination, it is a combined vaccination against three diseases (DTaP). 

The National Immunisation Programme protects children against serious infectious diseases for almost 70 years. Read about these diseases and why it is important to vaccinate against them.

The pneumococcal vaccination protects against different types of pneumococci bacteria. That means it protects against some forms of meningitis, pneumonia, blood poisoning and middle ear infection. Children receive the pneumococcal vaccination at 3 months, 5 months and 12 months. 

The meningococcal vaccination protects against various meningococcal bacteria: types A, C, W and Y. That means it protects against meningitis and blood poisoning. Children receive this vaccination at 14 months and again at 14 years.