Download Protect your child from infectious diseases

Protect your child
from infectious
diseases
Dutch National Immunisation Programme
Have your child vaccinated
In the Netherlands, all children receive a number of injections
against infectious diseases. The injections are called vaccinations
or inoculations. This is how we protect your child against serious
infectious diseases. Children who have not been born in the
Netherlands and are coming to live here are also offered these
vaccinations, under the same Dutch vaccination programme. Any
programme from your country of origin is converted into the
Dutch programme, on the basis of which a doctor will assess
which vaccinations your child will be offered. This depends on
your child’s age and which vaccinations he or she has already
received. If you have vaccination records from your country of
origin, please show them to the doctor.
This brochure is to inform you of the various vaccinations. It also
explains what you can do should your child suffer from any
symptoms because of a vaccination. It is important that the
vaccination programme is completed in its entirety as this will best
protect your child against infectious diseases.
The vaccinations are free for your children. The Dutch government
pays for them.
Against which diseases will your child be vaccinated?
Some infectious diseases are severe and hard to treat. This is why
it makes sense to have your child vaccinated at all times. Your
child can be vaccinated against the following diseases:
- Diphtheria (D)
- Pertussis (whooping cough) (K)
- Tetanus (T)
- Poliomyelitis (P)
- Mumps (B)
- Measles (M)
- Rubella (German measles) (R)
- Infections with HIB bacteria (Hib)
- Infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pneu)
- Infection with meningococcus C (MenC)
- Hepatitis B (HepB)
- Cervical cancer (HPV)
Has your child been ill or is he or she on medication?
Has your child been seriously ill or is he or she on medication? Or
has your child been treated by a doctor in the last three months?
Do you suspect that your child is ill? You must inform the doctor or
nurse prior to the vaccination.
Vaccination schedule
Children born in the Netherlands are offered vaccinations
according to the Dutch programme. If your child comes to live in
the Netherlands at a later age, he or she may have had certain
vaccinations. The vaccination schedule will be modified accordingly. The doctor will explain which vaccinations your child
needs. The doctor or the nurse will perform the injection.
Should you have any questions or wish to have further information, you can ask the doctor or nurse.
Vaccination schedule*
months
months
months
months
months
Injection 1
DKTP
Hib
HepB
DKTP
Hib
HepB
DKTP
Hib
HepB
DKTP
Hib
HepB
BMR
Injection 2
Pneu
Pneu
Pneu
Pneu
MenC
4 years
9 years
DKTP
DTP
12 years
HPV
3 times
1 injection
BMR
* Valid from 1 August 2011
DDiphtheria
K Pertussis (whooping cough)
T Tetanus
P Poliomyelitis
Hib Haemophilus influenzae type b
HepB Hepatitis B
Pneu Streptococcus pneumoniae
BMumps
Which diseases do the vaccinations protect your child
against?
Diphtheria Diphtheria is a serious inflammation of the throat.
If your child contracts diphtheria he or she may suffocate. In
addition, heart and nervous system may become damaged.
Pertussis If your child contracts pertussis, he or she will cough
a great deal and very fiercely. Pertussis is very common in the
Netherlands. It is especially dangerous to babies. They may suffer
lasting brain damage or even die. A child that has been vaccinated
against pertussis can still contract the disease but he or she will have
milder symptoms than when he or she had not been vaccinated.
Tetanus If your child contracts tetanus, his or her muscles may
tense up. This includes the muscles your child needs to swallow
and breathe. Your child may suffocate. A child may contract
tetanus if he or she is bitten by an animal, for instance, a rabbit,
or if street dirt ends up in a scratch.
Polio Polio is short for poliomyelitis and is also called infantile
paralysis. If your child contracts polio, he or she may become
paralysed.
Hib If your child becomes infected with the HIB bacteria, it may
contract a number of diseases: meningitis, inflammation of the
epiglottis, pneumonia, inflammation of the joints, blood
poisoning.
Hepatitis B Hepatitis B is an inflammation of the liver. Sometimes
this infection does not go away and the patient in question
becomes a carrier of the virus. This may severely damage the liver
and may cause liver cancer later in life, resulting in death. Hepatitis
B is contagious, which means others can also contract it, for
instance when they come into contact with contaminated blood.
If children become infected with this virus, they run a large risk of
becoming carrier of the virus. Are you pregnant and carrier of the
hepatitis B virus? In that case, your child will receive additional
vaccinations within 48 hours after the birth.
Streptococcus pneumoniae If your child becomes infected with
MMeasles
R
Rubella (German measles)
MenC Meningococcus C
HPV Human Papillomavirus
Streptococcus pneumoniae, he or she may contract a number of
diseases: meningitis, blood poisoning, pneumonia, bronchitis or
inflammation of the middle ear. Your child may suffer permanent
damage, such as deafness, epilepsy, mental retardation or growth
disorders. Infection of the limbs may sometimes require amputation of an arm or a leg. Your child may even die of an infection
with Streptococcus pneumoniae. There are many different types
of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The vaccination protects against
the main types.
Mumps The mumps is a disease of the salivary glands. Your
child’s cheek will swell up. Your child can contract meningitis from
the mumps. Furthermore, your child may contract inflammation
of the testicles or ovaries. Occasionally, this may cause infertility.
Measles If your child has contracted measles, he or she will have
a high fever and a rash. Your child may be quite ill. He or she may
contract an ear infection, bronchitis,
pneumonia and brain fever from the measles. In severe cases,
a child could even die from the measles.
Rubella Rubella is especially dangerous during pregnancy. If your
daughter is pregnant later in life and contracts rubella, there is a
high risk that her child is born with a birth defect. The baby could
be deaf or blind, for instance. Or he or she may have a heart
condition or a mental deficiency. Your daughter may also miscarry
because of rubella.
Meningococcus C If your child is exposed to Meningococcus C,
he or she may contract meningitis and blood poisoning. Your child
can die from this. He or she may become deaf, become mentally
challenged, have learning difficulties or behavioural issues.
Infection of the limbs may sometimes require amputation of
an arm or a leg.
HPV An infection with HPV may cause your daughter to have
cervical cancer later in life. HPV is an abbreviation of Human
Papillomavirus. There are many different types of HPV. The
vaccination protects against the most common types.
Vaccinations can have adverse side effects
Which adverse side effects can affect your child?
The immune system of healthy babies and that of older children
can cope well with the vaccinations. They will strengthen the
immune system. If your child has been vaccinated, it is possible
that he or she does not feel well for a while afterwards. Every child
does not respond the same to a vaccination. The following
complaints are common:
- Fever.
- Listlessness.
- A red mark, swelling or pain where the child was injected.
- Pain when moving the arm or leg that was injected.
- Babies may sleep more restlessly or longer than usual.
- Children from 4 years and up may faint because of the tension
they feel because of the injection.
Most adverse side effects start on the day of the injection. They are
mostly gone within two days. Side effects from the mumps, measles
and rubella (BMR) start a bit later: 5 to 12 days after the injection.
Are you worried about your child? Or does the fever and listlessness
last longer than two days? Consult your family doctor. Your child will
not become more unwell if he or she vaccinated against several
diseases at once.
What can you do to lessen the adverse side effects?
You can lessen the side effects by:
• Comfort your child, give him or her attention and distract away
from the pain of the injection.
• Does your child have a fever? Make sure that he or she stays cool.
Dress your child lightly, for instance only a romper suit or vest. Do
not have your child with you in the bed. That is far too warm. Let
your child be in his or her own bed under a sheet. You can pat
your child with a moist face cloth. There is no need to give your
child any paracetamol. See to it that he or she drinks enough.
• Is your child throwing up? While watching over the child
(especially babies and young children), place him or her on his or
her stomach with the head towards the side. This prevents any
vomit from ending up in the lungs. Despite the risk of vomiting,
it is advised to put your child to bed on his or her back.
This is an edition by:
The National Institute for Public Health
and the Environment (RIVM)
PO Box 1 | 3720 BA Bilthoven
www.rivm.nl/rijksvaccinatieprogramma
www.facebook.com/rvp.vaccinaties
005470
This information was drawn up in collaboration with GGD
Nederland.
• Is the arm or leg that was vaccinated sore? Touch it as little as
possible. Touching it may increase the pain.
• Never shake your child! Not even if he or she is choking or has
stopped breathing for a moment. If you shake your child, you
may damage his or her brain. It is therefore better to tap him or
her on the cheek or squeeze his or her foot.
• Are you worried about your child? Do you feel that your child is
very sick from the vaccination? Or does your child have an
unusual side effect? Phone your family doctor or visit him or her.
Your family doctor may give you advice or examine your child.
Is your child crying a lot? Or is your child experiencing pain later in
the day of the vaccination? Then you can give your child paracetamol, but preferably not too often. Following the dose recommended for the age and weight of your child. Always read the insert.
Always report side effects
Does your child have a side effect after a vaccination? Inform the
vaccination doctor or nurse upon your next visit. This way, they will
know about your child’s specific situation. All vaccination side
effects in the Netherlands are recorded and investigated. That is
another reason why it is important that you report any side effects.
What does the RIVM do?
The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment
(RIVM) ensures that your child can join the National Immunisation
Programme. The RIVM sends the vaccination slips to you. Store
them carefully and take them with you when you go in for the
vaccinations. The RIVM has your child’s details and will only use
them for the National Immunisation Programme. They will also
keep track of which vaccinations your child has received in the
Netherlands.
Where do you go for the vaccinations?
The GGD or a Centre for Youth and Family (CJG) ensures the
implementation of the vaccinations. You will receive a summons
from them for the vaccination.
This leaflet has been translated by COA (Central Agency for the Reception
of Asylum Seekers) and is intended specifically for asylum seekers. RIVM
has taken due care to ensure the accuracy of the translation of the Dutch
text into English. However, RIVM accepts no liability for any damage
resulting from possible omissions in the translation of this leaflet. The
Dutch version of the leaflet will prevail in the event of any conflict or
discrepancy with the translation.
September 2013