Vaccination against Whooping Cough: 22-week vaccination

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Whooping cough is dangerous for babies. You can protect your baby from whooping cough by getting vaccinated yourself during your pregnancy. The vaccine is available starting from the 22nd week of your pregnancy: the 22-week vaccination.

Whooping cough is also known as pertussis or the ‘100-day cough’. This extremely contagious disease is caused by a bacterial infection. The infection leads to severe coughing fits, which can persist for months. Infants may struggle to breathe well and could actually stop breathing for a few seconds. Dangerous for babies Whooping cough can be extremely dangerous for babies. They may get pneumonia or develop brain damage, and could even die from the disease. Nearly 170 infants end up in hospital with whooping cough every year. Newborns are not protected Infants and young children are vaccinated against whooping cough. However, they cannot get their first vaccinations until they are a few months old. That means that newborns and very young infants are not yet protected against whooping cough during the first few months. And that is precisely when they are most vulnerable. 

You can get vaccinated against whooping cough yourself during your pregnancy. That ensures that your baby will be protected from the moment they enter the world. You can get the shot from the 22nd week of your pregnancy. That is why it is known as the 22-week vaccination.

How does it work? After you are vaccinated, your body makes antibodies. These antibodies are shared with your unborn baby via the placenta. As a result, your baby will have enough antibodies to protect against whooping cough for the first few months. Until your baby gets his or her first vaccination. The vaccine protects your baby, but it also protects you. You won’t be able to get whooping cough or infect others. 1 less shot for your baby Another benefit: if you get vaccinated, your baby might not need to be vaccinated as often. In that case, your baby will get the first vaccination at 3 months instead of 2 months.

This vaccination is part of the Dutch National Immunisation Programme

Costs of this vaccination

Since the vaccine is included in the National Immunisation Programme, the vaccination is free.

Appointment

Make an appointment with the GGD to get the shot. While you are there, you will hear more about the vaccinations that your baby will be offered later via the National Immunisation Programme. 

How to make an appointment

Do you live in the Gemeente Haarlemmermeer?

• You can create a personal file via the parent portal. 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 below to log in with your DigiD:            
  https://ouderportaal.ggdkennemerland.nl/ 
• 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. JGZ Kennemerland can be reached by telephone via telephone number 088-9959595.

Do you live in the Gemeente Hillegom en Bollenstreek?

• To make an appointment with you, we will be needing some information. You can fill in a form via our digital parent portal. Use DigiD to log in to the GGD Hollands Midden portal.
• After registration 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 whooping cough vaccination during your pregnancy? Take a look at the website of the RIVM. 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