The whooping cough vaccine has been offered to all children in the Netherlands through the National Vaccination Program since 1953. The vaccination rate is above 90%, so the chance that you have been vaccinated against this disease is very high. However, an advisory report recently appeared from the Health Council recommending that people who work with small children be offered a whooping cough vaccination. We will explain why in this blog.
Why vaccinate against whooping cough?
Whooping cough is extremely contagious and is especially dangerous for babies. Adults usually dont get very sick, but can still carry the virus. Babies are vaccinated three times before their first birthday, when they are three, five and eleven months old. This means that they are not yet protected in their first three months of life. And although the first injection really makes a difference, the protection is only complete once all three vaccinations have been received.
In order to protect babies during those first months, an additional vaccine has been offered to pregnant women since 2019. This DKT injection, also known as the 22-week injection, ensures that babies are also protected against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus in their first three months. For the mother herself, this works as a booster of the vaccinations she already had as a child. But not all mothers take this injection; currently around 70% get the 22-week injection. Their children will then receive the DTP-Hib-HepB vaccination as soon as they are two months old.
Extra protection for young children
Despite this extra vaccination for pregnant women, it is wise to take additional protective measures. Some children have received fewer antibodies from their mother, for example because they were born prematurely. Some mothers have not received the booster shot. And although the booster vaccine helps, the protection against whooping cough is not yet complete. This is only the case when the child itself has been fully vaccinated.
For this reason, it is now recommended that people who work with young children, for example in healthcare or childcare, be offered an extra whooping cough vaccine. This vaccine is not for their own protection, but for that of the children they care for. The consequences of a whooping cough infection can be very serious for these children and it is in the interest of all of us to prevent the spread of this disease as much as possible.
Why is whooping cough an issue again?
We have been vaccinating against whooping cough since 1953 through the National Vaccination Programme. However, in recent years we have seen the number of infections increase again. Since 1996, this is partly because the structure of the bacteria changed around that time, which means that the vaccine works slightly less well. As a result, people who have been vaccinated can also become ill.
During the pandemic, the number of infections was much lower. This makes sense, because the measures that were taken at the time to prevent corona infection are also effective in preventing the transmission of other diseases, including whooping cough. As a result, fewer people built up immunity to whooping cough during the pandemic. That is one of the explanations why the number of infections is now higher. That makes it even more important to take extra steps to protect ourselves, and children, against this disease.
Who should consider the vaccination and how do you get it?
The Health Council believes that employers should offer the whooping cough vaccine to their employees. This includes anyone who regularly works with children under six months of age. These include midwives, childcare workers, doctors, nurses and maternity care workers.
Do you fall into this target group? You may soon receive information from your employer about how this will be offered at your workplace. For example, you will hear where and when you can get the vaccination. Sometimes this is provided at your workplace, sometimes employers make arrangements with a vaccination centre. The vaccine is always administered by a qualified healthcare professional. In order to provide optimal protection, the whooping cough vaccine must be repeated every five years. Is there no policy at your workplace yet? Then ask your employer about it.
Whooping cough vaccination at vaccinatiecentrum.nl
You can contact vaccinatiecentrum.nl with all your vaccination questions, our nurses will be happy to help you. The booster vaccine against whooping cough consists of one injection. Have you not reveived a whooping cough vaccine before, including the DTP vaccination? Then you need three vaccines with a total of at least seven months between them. Our nurses will think along with you and will give you personal advice based on your health, vaccination history and preferences.
Are you an employer and do you want to offer the whooping cough vaccine to your employees? Then contact us to discuss the possibilities.
Published at 11 december 2024.