Advisory letter Vaccination against Mexican flu

On 29 April 2009, the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport asked the Health Council of the Netherlands to issue an emergency report on vaccination against Mexican flu. The Committee on Vaccination during an influenza pandemic published its report in response to this request on 8 May. The Committee has answered the Minister’s questions with reference to the preparatory work for a general advisory report on the role of vaccination in preparation for an influenza pandemic, which is scheduled for publication in July 2009.

Committee

This advisory letter has been written by the Committee on Vaccination During a Pandemic. Members and advisors of this committee were the following persons:

• Professor E.J. Ruitenberg PhD, Emeritus Professor of Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Professor of International Public Health, Free University, Amsterdam, chairman
• Professor R.A. Coutinho PhD, Professor of Epidemiology and Prevention of Infectious Diseases, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam; National Institute of Public Health, Bilthoven, advisor
• P.J. van Dalen PhD, Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sport, The Hague, advisor
• E. Hak PhD, Clinical epidemiologist, University Medical Centre Groningen
• G. Koch PhD, Central Veterinary Institute, Lelystad, Wageningen University ResearchCentre
• Mrs. Professor M. Koopmans PhD, Professor of Virological Research for Public Health, Erasmus MedicalCentre, Rotterdam, National Institute of Public Health, Bilthoven
• Professor T.W. Kuijpers PhD, Professor of Child Immunology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam,
• W. Luytjes PhD, Netherlands Vaccine Institute, Bilthoven, advisor
• W. Opstelten PhD, General Practioner, Netherlands College of General Practioners (NHG), Utrecht
• Professor A.D.M.E. Osterhaus PhD, Professor of Virology, Erasmus Medical Centre Rotterdam, advisor
• Mrs. A.C.G. Voordouw MPH PhD, Medicines Evaluation Board (CBG), The Hague, advisor
• J. Wallinga PhD, Population Biologist, National Institute of Public Health, Bilthoven
• Professor J.C. Wilschut PhD, Professor of Viral Infection Mechanisms and Vaccine Development,University Medical Centre Groningen, advisor
• H. Houweling PhD, Medical Epidemiologist, Health Council, The Hague, scientific secretary