The National Immunisation Programme is for all children aged 0–18 years and pregnant women (from week 22 of pregnancy) living in the Netherlands. However, different conditions do apply for some groups and in some situations. This page explains these rules.
Conditions imposed by Dutch law
According to Dutch law, children aged 0–18 years and pregnant women (from week 22 of pregnancy) are entitled to have vaccinations from the National Immunisation Programme if they are in at least one of the following situations:
- They are registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP) and living in the Netherlands;
- They are registered in ProBas; the Protocol Base is open to ‘privileged people’, which includes diplomats, employees of international organisations, and their children;
- They are asylum seekers living in shelters operated by the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA).
- One or more other situations are applicable which make it necessary to get a vaccination, such as due to illness.
Conditions based on medical factors
Besides the conditions imposed by Dutch law, there are also conditions based on medical factors. In the case of health hazards, medical interests always take precedence over legal conditions. These situations are explained later on this page.
Is there doubt about whether or not a person is eligible? Then children aged 0–18 years living in the Netherlands and women from week 22 of pregnancy who are receiving obstetric care in the Netherlands may take part in the National Immunisation Programme.
Are Dutch citizens living in other countries allowed to take part in the National Immunisation Programme?
Dutch children living in Germany or Belgium are not registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP). They are not eligible to take part in the National Immunisation Programme, even if they attend school or work in the Netherlands. This group can take part in the childhood immunisation programmes of the country where they live. These programmes are the same quality as the National Immunisation Programme in the Netherlands.
Pregnant women who live in Germany or Belgium but are receiving obstetric care in the Netherlands do qualify for the maternal whooping cough vaccination (22-week vaccination). They will receive an invitation from their midwife or obstetrician/gynaecologist.
Yes. Diplomats and military personnel stationed in other countries are eligible for vaccinations administered in the context of the National Immunisation Programme. However, they will not receive the invitation letters. Diplomats (and their families) return to the Netherlands on a regular basis and are seen by the Job Health and Safety (ARBO) Service of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs during those visits.
Military families are seen by the Job Health and Safety (ARBO) Service at the location where they work. Children can get their vaccinations (or catch up with any missed vaccinations) at these appointments with the Job Health and Safety Service, or during a visit to the Netherlands. This is arranged in consultation with Youth Healthcare Services (JGZ).
No. A Dutch expat is a Dutch citizen who is residing in a different country for an extended time period. Expats and their family members are generally not registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP) of the Netherlands. They are therefore not eligible for the National Immunisation Programme. They will have to arrange vaccinations themselves in the place where they are living.
Are foreign nationals living in the Netherlands allowed to take part in the National Immunisation Programme?
In 2000, the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) announced that foreign nationals without a residence permit (and their children) have access to the National Immunisation Programme for reasons of ‘medically necessary care’.
Yes. Children and pregnant women who have exhausted all legal remedies and are staying in an immigration detention facility, for example, can be vaccinated. From a healthcare perspective, the fact that they are likely to be deported soon does not warrant a change in policy.
Adoptive children coming to the Netherlands from other countries
Yes. Adopted children are registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP) and are thus eligible for the National Immunisation Programme.
Foreign infants in Dutch hospitals sometimes have to spend extended periods in a hospital in the Netherlands. During that period, they may reach an age at which they would normally have been vaccinated. In view of the medical interests at stake, they will then be vaccinated.
Children are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated if they have not yet received the first repeat vaccination against DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV and pneumococcal disease, as well as the first MMR vaccination and MenACWY vaccination. Once children have had these vaccinations (referred to as ‘basic immunity’), the exact timing of the next vaccine doses is less crucial.
Foreign children aged 0–4 years who are not yet fully vaccinated, or have not received any vaccinations, are in principle not entitled to vaccinations in the context of the National Immunisation Programme. They must get their vaccinations in their country of origin. If it would take longer than 1 month to arrange that, then the ‘medical interests’ become more important. In this case, the medical interests involve ensuring that the maximum possible number of children in the Netherlands are protected against a number of serious infectious diseases’. That 1-month time period is not a hard-and-fast limit; the point here is that it is not possible for the child to receive the vaccination in time in their country of origin.
Once children are fully vaccinated, the exact timing of the next vaccine doses is less crucial. At this point, children have achieved ‘basic immunity’. This means that they have had the final vaccination in the series against DTaP-IPV-Hib-HBV and Pneumococcal disease and the first vaccination against MMR and MenACWY.
A decision based on the individual child is always made for the vaccination given at 4 years (DTaP-IPV), 9 years (DT-IPV), 10 years (HPV), and 14 years (MenACWY). It is often possible for the child to get the vaccination in their country of origin. If the duration of stay in the Netherlands is longer than 1 month, it is not possible for the child to receive the vaccination in their country of origin. In that case, your child can be vaccinated in the context of the National Immunisation Programme.