public health officials in the Netherlands are closely monitoring trends in vaccine-preventable diseases as rates for some illnesses are climbing despite high overall vaccination coverage. Recent data from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Habitat (RIVM) shows a return to pre-pandemic levels for many diseases, but reveals concerning increases in cases of whooping cough, measles, and mumps. these findings are prompting adjustments to the national Immunisation Program (NIP), including the addition of an RSV vaccine and revisions to the vaccination schedule beginning in 2025.
Every year, public health officials track the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases to assess the effectiveness of immunization programs. Recent data from the Netherlands reveals a complex picture, with some diseases showing a resurgence while others remain rare, highlighting the ongoing need for robust vaccination efforts.
Summary
In 2024, rates of many diseases preventable by the Netherlands’ National Immunisation Programme (NIP) largely returned to levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, notable increases were observed in cases of whooping cough, measles, and mumps, prompting continued monitoring and potential adjustments to vaccination strategies.
Specifically, the Netherlands reported 18,208 cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in 2024, a significant rise that began in 2023 and peaked in April before declining. Measles cases also increased sharply, with 205 reported in 2024, and this trend continued into the first four months of 2025. Mumps cases, which began to climb in 2023, also remained elevated throughout 2024.
Rates of invasive pneumococcal disease (2,321), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (55), meningococcal disease (138), and chronic hepatitis B (854) were comparable to those seen in 2023. Rubella and polio cases remained absent, as they did in the previous year, and cases of diphtheria (3) and tetanus (3) were rare.
Approximately 950,000 children under 18 received vaccinations through the NIP in 2024, totaling over 2.4 million doses. In addition, over 110,000 pregnant individuals were vaccinated against influenza and/or pertussis, providing crucial protection to their infants in the early months of life. More than 145,000 vaccinations were administered to pregnant people, with the majority targeting pertussis.
Looking ahead to 2025, the NIP will incorporate two key changes. A vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) will be offered to infants born from 2025 onward, and the vaccination schedule will be adjusted to optimize protection. These updates underscore the commitment to continually refine immunization strategies based on the latest scientific evidence.
The revised schedule includes administering pertussis and pneumococcal vaccines at 12 months of age instead of 11 for babies born on or after January 1, 2024. The second dose of the mumps, measles, and rubella (MMR) vaccine will now be given at 3 years old instead of 9, and the diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT) vaccine will be administered at 5 years old instead of 4. The findings could guide future vaccination strategies and improve protection against these diseases.
Abstract
Every year, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) tracks how many people fall ill due to a disease against which vaccination is included in the National Immunisation Programme (NIP). In 2024, the number of people who contracted such a disease mostly returned to pre-pandemic levels. For some diseases, this was not the case.
For example, the number of children with pertussis (whooping cough) in 2024 was notably high. The increase started in 2023, it increased until April 2024, and then decreased again. In total, there were 18,208 notifications in 2024. Also, the number of people with measles increased sharply in 2024 (205), and this trend continued into the first four months of 2025. The increase in mumps cases that began in 2023 also continued in 2024.
The numbers of invasive pneumococcal disease (2,321), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (55), meningococcal disease (138), and chronic hepatitis B (854) were similar in 2024 as in 2023. As in 2023, there were no cases of rubella or polio in 2024. The number of cases of diphtheria (3) and tetanus (3) remained low.
In 2024, about 950,000 children up to 18 years of age were vaccinated as part of the NIP. They received a total of over 2.4 million vaccinations. Also, more than 110,000 pregnant people were vaccinated against flu and/or pertussis. These vaccinations protect their baby in the first few months after birth against flu and pertussis. They received a total of over 145,000 vaccinations.
Finally, in 2025, two changes were made to the NIP. First, an injection against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was added for babies born from April 2025 onwards. In addition, the vaccination schedule in general was adjusted, the moments when children receive the vaccinations. This was done to offer children even better protection.
A few examples: babies born from January 1, 2024 onwards, receive vaccinations against, among others, pertussis and pneumococcal disease one month later: at 12 months instead of 11 months. Also, children now receive their second vaccination against mumps, measles, and rubella at 3 years instead of at 9 years. Furthermore, the vaccination against diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus is now given when children are 5 years old instead of 4.
