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The National Immunisation Programme in the Netherlands: surveillance and developments in 2016-2017.

Alebeek, R. van, Benschop, K., Benthem, B. van, Brinnendijk, R. van, Bogaards, J.A., Bootsma, H.J., Brinkman, I., Bruijning-Verhagen, P., Buisman, A., Cremer, J., Donken, R., Duizer, E., Els, C.A.C.M. van, Ende, A. van der, Friesema, I.H.M., Gent, M. van, Gier, B. de, Gouma, S., Heiningen, F. van, Hoek, W. van der, Hofstraat, S., Hooiveld, M., Hulshof, K., Janga-Jansen, A., Jochemsen, P., Kaaijk, P., Kassteele, J. van de, Kasteren, P.B. van, Kemmeren, J.M., Kerkhof, H. van den, King, A.J., Klis, F.R.M. van der, Knol, M.J., Korthals-Altes, H., Lehmann, B., Lier, E.A. van, Luinstra-Passchier, M., Luytjes, W., Maas, N.A.T. van der, Mangen, M.J.J., McDonald, S.A., Meijer, A., Melker, H.E. de, Mollema, L., Monge, S., Nielen, M., Nottermans, D.W., Pasmans, H., Pinelli, E., Prettner, R., Qendri, V., Reubsaet, F.A.G., Romijnders, K., Rots, N.Y., Ruijs, W.L.M., Schurink-van 't Klooster, T.M., Slobbe, J. van, Suijkerbuijk, A.W.M., Teirlinck, A.C., Veldhuizen, I.K., Vennema, H., Verberk, J.D.M., Vos, R.A., Weele, P. van der, Woestenberg, P.J., Woudenberg, T. The National Immunisation Programme in the Netherlands: surveillance and developments in 2016-2017. Bilthoven: RIVM, 2017. 267 p.
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Surveillance and developments in 2016-2017

In 2016, about 760,000 children aged 0 to 19 years received a total of 2,140,000 vaccinations within the National Immunisation Programme (NIP). Participation in the NIP was high (more than 90% depending on the vaccine), but dropped by around 0.5% for newborns for the third consecutive year. The participation in vaccinations against human papillomavirus (HPV) declined from 61 to 53 per cent. The number of reports (1,483) of adverse events following immunisation (in total 3,665) in 2016 was comparable to the number of reports in 2015.

NIP target diseases
The number of reported cases of most NIP target diseases was again low. However, the number of cases of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease in 2016 (n=44) was considerably higher than in the previous five years (22-34 cases), with the highest incidence occurring among children under five years of age. Pertussis incidence in 2016 fits within the usual fluctuations. However, six people died from pertussis in 2016.The incidence of cervical cancer cases increased in 2016 (9.3 per 100,000 compared with 7.7 per 100,000 in 2015). In 2017, two fully vaccinated employees were exposed to a wild poliovirus type 2 (WPV2). Due to strict isolation, no transmission was detected.

Potential NIP target diseases
An increase in the number of meningococcal (Men) disease was observed after more than two decades of decrease. An ongoing increase in the number of cases of MenW disease has been observed (9, 50 and 34, respectively, in 2015, 2016 and the first five months of 2017).

Dutch Health Council recommendations
The RIVM facilitate the Dutch Health Council with their recommendations on vaccinations and therefore has collected and structured relevant national and international information in background documents concerning rotavirus, meningococcal disease and HPV.The Health Council has advised earlier that maternal pertussis vaccination should be provided.

The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) has expressed a positive attitude towards the advice but still has to make a decision. In 2017, the Health Council also advised that all employees who are in close contact with young infants during work should be offered vaccination against pertussis. In addition, the Dutch Health Council advised in September 2017 positive on vaccination against rotavirus and the minister decided to vaccinate against MenACWY in 2018. (aut. ref.)