The Dutch vaccination programme for children in the Netherlands

In a

Children in the Netherlands receive invitations for 1 or more vaccinations at set times. They receive the first vaccination when they are a few weeks old. They get the last vaccination when they are 14 years old. Children get most vaccinations, such as

The RIVM website lists the ages at which your child can get a vaccination

The

Vaccinations in the Netherlands are free. They are not mandatory.

Vaccinations are given by a youth physician or youth nurse. This is done at the

The RIVM records all vaccinations. So the government knows how many children have been vaccinated. This is important to see how well the Netherlands is protected against diseases.

In Ukraine, vaccinations are mandatory and not always free. Some people therefore do not trust the Dutch system. Vaccines in the Netherlands are well tested by an independent organisation. So they are safe. The injection may hurt for a while.

Sometimes a child may feel a little sick after an injection. This is normal. The body is then busy providing protection against the disease. A child may have a fever, be tired, want to eat less or have a red and sore spot at the site of the injection. These symptoms usually go away on their own after a few days.

Call the doctor or the healthcare centre if your child is very drowsy, moaning, has a high fever (higher than 39.5°C) or if you are worried.

In Ukraine, vaccinations are mandatory. Yet fewer people are vaccinated there. In Ukraine, diseases such as

That includes

Ukrainian children also receive all other vaccinations from the Dutch vaccination programme. Just like all other children in the Netherlands. Learn more on the government website about other vaccinations.

The Dutch vaccination programme has been in existence for 80 years. Almost all people in the Netherlands have been vaccinated. As a result, many dangerous diseases no longer occur here.

Vaccinations are important. They are the only way to prevent diseases from spreading.

Schools may not refuse children who are not vaccinated because children must attend school according to compulsory education.

Different rules apply to

In the Netherlands, vaccination begins during pregnancy. When a woman is 22 weeks pregnant, she can get a vaccination against

• A vaccination against pneumococcal disease. This helps prevent

  pneumonia
  .

• A vaccination against meningococcal disease. This will protect against

  blood poisoning
  and
  meningitis
  .

• A vaccination against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). This virus can later cause

  cervical cancer
  .

These vaccinations are also free and not mandatory because they are part of the Dutch vaccination programme.