Vaccination against Whooping Cough an Flu

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General Information 22 week vaccination

We like to inform you about the whooping cough vaccination.

Whooping cough is a very contagious disease caused by a bacterium. The bacteria produces a toxin. This causes coughing fits that can go on for months. Babies can become very stuffy and breathless. Sometimes hospitalization is necessary. For young babies, whooping cough can be dangerous.

From the 22nd week of pregnancy until the end of your pregnancy, you can get vaccinated against whooping cough free of charge. If you get vaccinated, you will make antibodies against these diseases. The antibodies pass to your child through the placenta. In this way, the whooping cough vaccination protects both you and your child.

Being vaccinated at least 2 weeks before delivery protects your baby from whooping cough for the first few months of life. This is precisely the period when your child cannot yet be vaccinated himself and whooping cough is most dangerous. Moreover, your baby often needs one less vaccination then. But a vaccination just before delivery also makes sense. This ensures that you will not get whooping cough yourself and thus cannot infect your baby.

During the flu season from Oct. 15 to March 1, pregnant women can also choose for the flu vaccination. Pregnant women with the flu are more likely to be hospitalized than women with flu of the same age who are not pregnant.The flu vaccination is safe for the baby and the pregnant woman.If you are already more than 22 weeks pregnant on Oct. 15, you can also get the flu vaccine for free. If you have a medical indication for the flu vaccination, you will receive an invitation from your family doctor. The family doctor will then give you the vaccine.

Side effects

Both vaccinations are safe for you and your child. However, you may experience side effects such as pain and redness at puncture site, headache and listlessness.

You can get the vaccination from the 22nd week of pregnancy until delivery. We do recommend doing it as soon as possible after the 22nd week. Because then your baby will be protected even if he or she is born prematurely. Your child is sufficiently protected if you had the shot at least 2 weeks before birth.

This vaccination is part of the Dutch National Immunisation Programme (Rijksvaccinatieprogramma).

Making an appointment

You will have an appointment with a youth health care physician or a nurse. Any questions about the vaccination can be discussed during this appointment. You will also receive information about the vaccinations your baby will receive later and what the Public Health Service can do for you and your family before and after delivery.

How to make an appointment

Do you live in the Gemeente Haarlemmermeer?

You can create a personal file via the parent portal of the GGD Kennemerland. You log in with your DigiD. Then call the Front Office JGZ 023-7891777 for an appointment. The Front Office is available every working day from 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Click here to log in with your DigiD.

If you do not have a DigiD, call the Front Office JGZ 023-7891777 to create your file and to make an appointment.

Do you live in South or Central Kennemerland?

(Beverwijk, Bloemendaal, Haarlem, Heemskerk, Heemstede, Uitgeest, Velsen and Zandvoort)

Then the 22 weeks vaccination will be offered to you by the organization JGZ Kennemerland. To make an appointment, JGZ Kennemerland can be reached by phone via telephone number 088-9959595.

Do you live in the Gemeente Hillegom en Bollenstreek?

To make an appointment you can conyact GGD Hollands Midden. You can enter your data through the digital parent portal. Click here to log on to the portal of the GGD Hollands Midden with your DigiD. After registering and filling in your details you will receive an invitation by letter or you will be called.

Is it not possible to register via the parent portal? Then you can call the vaccination telephone 088 308 34 80

If it is unclear to which region you belong, look here to see where you can make an appointment.

More information

Would you like to know more about the vaccinations during your pregnancy? Then check the RIVM website regarding whooping cough and the flu vaccine. Unfortunately it is in Dutch, but this is for people that might understand Dutch a little bit.

Look here for the Folders about Whooping Couch in a few different languages.

If you still have questions, please contact us.