Meningococcal B vaccine to be excluded from the RVP for now

The Health Council of the Netherlands has recommended against including the meningococcal B vaccine in the National Immunisation Programme (RVP) for the time being. The number of cases is currently low, while the number of adverse events caused by the vaccine is relatively high, and vaccination does not result in herd immunity. Consequently, for the time being, there are insufficient grounds to offer the vaccine to all children. Individual parents have the option to arrange for their child to receive the vaccine outside the RVP. The Council has informed the State Secretary of Health, Welfare and Sport accordingly in an advisory report.