The GGD Zeeland will start a new vaccination campaign in the middle of this month. It concerns vaccination against meningococci and, among other things, diphtheria, tetanus and polio. The campaign against cervical cancer will follow in October.
The RIVM calls meningococci an insidious disease due to its rapid course. The bacteria can cause meningitis or blood poisoning. Toddlers get an injection when they are fourteen months old. Young people of fourteen can expect an invitation for a vaccination soon.
When children are nine years old, they are vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and polio (DTP) and a vaccine against mumps, measles and rubella (MMR). All children who have turned 9 this year will receive a call for vaccination against DTP/MMR in October.
cervical cancer
All children who have turned ten this year will receive a call for vaccination against HPV (cervical cancer). HPV is a virus; the human papilloma virus. You usually don’t notice the virus, but it is very contagious. If you have HPV, you can infect someone else without knowing it. There are different types of HPV infections. The two most dangerous are types 16 and 18, which are the most likely to lead to cancer.
Girls have been offered a vaccination against HPV since 2010. Today, boys also have the opportunity to protect themselves against HPV cancer. From 2022 they will receive an invitation from the RIVM. The (catch-up) vaccine campaign for the HPV vaccination for 11-18 year olds will also start in October. Young people between 11 and 18 years old have already received an invitation this spring. Otherwise, the call will follow next spring.