When children are about 3 years old (between the ages of 2.5 and 3.5 years), they will be offered their second vaccination against mumps, measles and rubella (MMR). In the current vaccination schedule, it is offered at the age of 9 years.
After the first MMR vaccination at 14 months, a small number of children have not built up enough immunity to measles. By giving the second MMR vaccination earlier, these children will also be protected at a younger age. Moving it to a younger age offers children better protection against measles.

This change applies to children born on or after 1 January 2022. 

Children born between 2016 and 2021 will also receive their second MMR vaccination earlier: between the ages of 5 and 9 years. Look at the table to see when your child is scheduled for the second MMR vaccination.  

When children are 5, they are vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (DTaP). In the current vaccination schedule, it is offered at the age of 4 years. By giving children the DTaP vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (pertussis) one year later, at the age of 5 years, children will have longer-lasting protection against whooping cough.

This change applies to children born on or after 1 January 2021.

This vaccination previously also included protection against polio, but that is not necessary at this age. After vaccinations against polio in their first 12 months, children aged 5 years are still protected against paralysis caused by polio. 

Duration of protection against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio

• A series of vaccinations against whooping cough (pertussis) offers protection for about 5 years. A series of vaccinations against diphtheria and tetanus offers protection for at least 10 years. This vaccination (DTaP-IPV) previously also included protection against polio, but that is not necessary at the age of 5 years. After vaccinations against polio in their first 12 months, children have lifelong protection against paralysis caused by polio. 
• Until the age of 5 years, children have effective protection due to the previous DTaP vaccine doses. This vaccination is given at the age of 5 years in many other countries as well. 
• The DTaP vaccination will be given 1 year later. A child’s immune system works better every year as they grow older. That is why moving a vaccination from the age of 4 years to 5 years has a major effect on a child.  The child still receives this vaccination before they are no longer protected by the previous vaccinations. Giving the vaccination one year later is also sufficient to ensure longer and more effective protection.

When children are 14 years old, they are vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and polio (DT-IPV). In the current vaccination schedule, it is offered at 9 years. Children have longer-lasting protection against diphtheria and tetanus if they receive this vaccination at a later age. There is sufficient time between the previous vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus (at 5 years) and this one at 14 years. A vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus offers protection for at least 10 years. Children already have lifelong protection against paralysis caused by polio after the vaccinations they received in their first 12 months. The extra vaccination against polio at the age of 14 years offers lifelong protection against contracting or transmitting a poliovirus infection. 

This change applies to children born on or after 1 January 2016