On Wednesday 19 January, the Health Council of the Netherlands issued an amended recommendation on vaccinating children. Parents or caregivers who vaccinate their children ages 5 to 11 sometimes do so out of consideration to prevent MIS-C. This is a rare but serious inflammatory disease that children can develop after going through corona. According to the Health Council, new research results now show that children who have previously experienced corona already have good protection against it. Parents or carers can still have a child vaccinated at the GGD for other reasons.
Vaccinating for other reasons
More and more children have already gone through corona. The reasons for opting for a vaccination are therefore diminishing. The health council gives in the Update advice vaccination points out, however, that there may be other reasons for parents to opt for a vaccination. For example, if the child has an illness or treatment that has greatly reduced the immune system or the prevention of infections in vulnerable housemates or other loved ones.
Vaccination schedule
Children aged 5 to 11, who have not yet had corona, receive two BioNTech/Pfizer children’s vaccines as standard at a GGD. There is preferably 8 weeks between those two injections, in order to offer optimal protection. For children who have gone through corona, but still want to be vaccinated, 1 vaccination is sufficient. This should be given at least 12 weeks after the infection.
Appointments can only be made by phone
Scheduling an appointment for children aged 5 to 11 can only be made by telephone. The telephone number is stated in the invitation letter from RIVM. Online scheduling via coronavaccinatie-afspraak.nl is not possible. In that case, your child will not be scheduled for the special children’s vaccine.
More information about childhood vaccinations
Do you have any questions? Then also read the frequently asked questions about childhood vaccinations.
–
