The future of the National Immunisation Programme: towards a programme for all age groups

Since 1957, Dutch children have been vaccinated against infectious disease through the National Immunisation Programme (NIP), usually at clinics for infants and toddlers. The programme prevents a great deal of disease and death. Initially, vaccination was provided against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and polio. Later, the programme was extended to also provide protection against measles, German measles, mumps, hepatitis B, and infection by Haemophilus influenzae type b, meningococcus C and pneumococci.
Since 2005, management of the programme has been the responsibility of the Centre for Infectious Disease Control (Dutch initials: CIb), part of the National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). The Netherlands Vaccine Institute (NVI) produces or sources the vaccines used for the Programme. Finally, the Health Council plays an advisory role in relation to all these activities. The Council identifies and assesses scientific information about vaccination and makes appropriate recommendations regarding the scope and content of the NIP.

Committee

• Professor E.J. Ruitenberg, emeritus professor of immunology; University of Utrecht; professor of international public health; VU University Amsterda, Chairman
• D.J.A. Bolscher, medical adviser to Prepas, the Vaccination Registry for Gelderland and Overijssel-Flevoland, Deventer
• G. van ’t Bosch, Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Hague, adviser
• Professor W. van Eden, physician-microbiologist / professor of veterinary immunology; University of Utrecht
• Dr. K. Groeneveld, medical immunologist; Health Council, The Hagu, adviser
• Professor R. de Groot, professor of paediatrics; University of Nijmegen
• S. Hahné, epidemiologist; National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, adviser (February-September 2006)
• Professor J. Huisman, emeritus professor of infectious disease control, Rotterdam
• Dr. H.E. de Melker, epidemiologist; National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, adviser (July 2003-January 2006 and from September 2006)
• Dr. T.G.W.M. Paulussen, head of health promotion; TNO Quality of Life, Leiden
• Dr. M.J. Postma, health economist; University of Groningen
• Dr. F. Pijpers, paediatrician; Amsterdam Municipal Health Service (until July 2006)
• Professor J.J. Roord, professor of paediatrics; VU University Amsterdam
• Professor J.L. Severens, professor of medical technology assessment; University of Maastricht and Maastricht University Hospital
• Professor B.H. Stricker, professor of pharmaco-epidemiology; Erasmus University, Rotterdam
• Professor S.P. Verloove-Vanhorick, professor of preventive and curative health care for children; University of Leiden, TNO Quality of Life, Leiden
• Dr. H.P. Verbrugge, paediatrician; Santpoort
• Dr. M. Verweij, ethicist; Institute of Ethics, University of Utrecht
• Dr. A.C.G. Voordouw, physician, MPH; Medicines Evaluation Board, The Hague, adviser
• Dr. H.L. Zaaijer, physician-microbiologist; Amsterdam University Hospital
• Dr. H. Houweling, physician-epidemiologist; Health Council, The Hague, secretary