Rota-virus
What is rotavirus?
Rotavirus causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines mainly in young children. The majority of children become infected with rotavirus somewhere during their childhood. The associated symptoms are:
- Fever;
- Nausea;
- Vomiting;
- Watery diarrhoea.
Symptoms appear on average two days after infection and persist for four to six days. In some children, the disease can be severe and, in exceptional cases, a child can die from the infection. Not everyone who is infected develops symptoms. A previous infection does not grant immunity, but it does ensure a milder course in the event of a new infection.
How do you get rotavirus?
Infection happens through the faeces of an infected person. A person with rotavirus is contagious for about a week.
What can you do to prevent a rotavirus infection?
You can be vaccinated against the rotavirus. In addition, proper hygiene is important because the virus spreads through faeces. Based on your destination and health, we will be happy to give you personal advice.
When to get a rotavirus vaccination?
The rotavirus vaccine is an oral vaccine. This means it is taken in the form of a drink. The vaccine can be given to infants between 6 and 24 weeks of age. The first dose is preferably given between the 6th and 12th week and no later than the 20th week. The second dose is given at least four weeks after the first dose. The vaccination provides protection for at least two years. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.
What are the side effects of a rotavirus vaccination?
The rotavirus vaccine can cause mild side effects. About 1 to 10 in 100 vaccinated children may experience thinner than normal stools for a few days after vaccination.
How much will a rotavirus vaccination cost?
Dutch children born from 1-1-2024 recieve the vaccine for free in the Dutch National Vaccination Programme.
Is your child born before that date? The cost of rotavirus vaccination is usually not covered by health insurance. For more information on costs, please visit our prices page.
Please note!
This vaccine is generally available within a few days but is not always in stock at every location. Please contact us by phone before your appointment.
Questions or schedule an appointment?
Do you want your child to be fully vaccinated before you travel? Keep in mind that there should be at least four weeks between the two doses of the vaccine, so be sure to book an appointment on time.
Do you have questions or would you like to book an appointment for a personal consultation? Use the button below, email us at info@vaccinatiecentrum.nl or call 085-9020303.
Leptospirosis
What is leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis is a disease caused by leptospires. This is a generic term for several syndromes caused by different bacteria of the leptospira family. Well-known syndromes are Weil’s disease, Mud fever and milk fever. The disease leptospirosis is characterised by flu-like symptoms. Symptoms may include sudden (severe) headache, fever, muscle and joint pain, hypersensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, it can lead to disruption of kidney and liver functions or meningitis (inflammation of the brain). Weil’s disease can be fatal if treatment is not started in time.
How do you get leptospirosis?
There are a number of varieties of leptospira bacteria, each with its own host. The best-known hosts are mice and rats, but cattle can also carry leptospires. The leptospires enter the environment through urine. You can get infected by splashing cattle urine in the milking barn, consuming raw milk or swimming in outdoor water where rats live. The bacteria thrive in lukewarm, stagnant or slow-flowing water. Leptospirosis occurs worldwide. In the Netherlands, infections are most common in summer through swimming in contaminated outdoor water. Travellers can contract leptospirosis during holidays in the (sub)tropics.
What can you do to prevent Leptospirosis?
Surface water contaminated by rat urine is the main risk factor for humans. Therefore, avoid swimming in lukewarm, stagnant water. Also avoid consuming raw milk. Rat catchers and agricultural workers working around the banks of canals should take proper hygiene measures and wear protective clothing. You can also get vaccinated against leptospirosis. The vaccine registered in the Netherlands is called Spirolept.
What protection does the Leptospirosis vaccination offer?
The vaccination against Leptospirosis consists of a series of three Spirolept vaccinations in total. The first two vaccinaties have an interval of two weeks, the third vaccination follows after 4-6 months. If necessary, a booster dose could be given every 2 years.
How much will a Leptospirosis vaccination cost?
The cost of a leptospirosis vaccination is in some cases covered by your health insurance. Check with your health insurance company whether the vaccination is (partially) covered. For more information on costs, please visit our prices page.
Any questions or want to book an appointment?
Do you have questions or would you like to book an appointment for a personal consultation? Use the button below, email us at info@vaccinatiecentrum.nl or call 085-9020303.
Influenza
What is influenza?
Influenza, also known as flu, is caused by the influenza virus. An infection with influenza can cause inflammation of the respiratory tract, causing a person to develop (high) fever, muscle aches, a sore throat, cough, headache and chills. There are many different influenza viruses and they can also change rapidly. As a result, people can get influenza repeatedly.
How do you get influenza?
The influenza virus spreads through droplets of mucus and saliva. An infected person spreads these droplets by, for example, coughing, sneezing and talking.
What can you do to prevent influenza?
Through the National Flu Prevention Programme a large group in the Netherlands receives a yearly flu vaccination. If you are not part of this group you get vaccinated at your own expense at vaccinatiecentrum.nl.
Besides vaccination, you can also prevent infection in other ways. For example, try to avoid physical contact with people who have symptoms of the flu as much as possible.
How does the influenza vaccination work?
The influenza vaccine, also known as the flu shot, is an inactivated vaccine which means it contains bits of inactivated influenza viruses. The vaccine causes the body to produce antibodies against the types of influenza viruses included in the vaccine, protecting you against the viruses. Vaccinatiecentrum.nl uses a quadrivalent vaccine, which means it provides protection against four influenza viruses that could potentially be the most pathogenic for that year.
What protection does the influenza vaccination offer?
The flu vaccination consists of one shot. Because there are many different influenza viruses and they also change rapidly, the vaccine is updated every year. for this update research is being done on which different influenza virus types are expected to be most prevalent that year. For this reason, the degree of protection may vary each year, and the vaccination does not provide long-term protection.
In general, the vaccine provides protection for six months, protecting you for one flu season against the variants circulating at that time. Usually the flu season starts in December, but sometimes it starts earlier or later. The flu shot is available from November. After getting the vaccination, it takes two weeks to reach maximum protection.
Can I get the influenza vaccination if I am pregnant?
The flu shot is safe for pregnant women and their unborn child. Women who are pregnant for 22 weeks or more during the flu season can get a free flu shot through the National Flu Prevention Programme (NPG).
New-born infants have an increased risk of complications from influenza. When women get an influenza vaccination during pregnancy, their child is also better protected after birth. This is because the antibodies produced by the mother after receiving the vaccine are passed on to the unborn child through the placenta.
How much will an influenza vaccination cost?
People with a higher risk of becoming seriously ill from an infection receive a yearly vaccination from their GP. If you are not in that group and still want a flu shot, you get one at your own expense at vaccinatiecentrum.nl.
If you have supplementary health insurance, a flu shot is sometimes covered by your health insurance.
For more information on the cost of a flu shot, please visit our prices page.
Questions or schedule an appointment?
Do you have questions or would you like to book an appointment for the influenza vaccination? Use the button below, email us at info@vaccinatiecentrum.nl or call 085-9020303.
Chicken Pox
Chickenpox
What is chickenpox?
Chickenpox is caused by a virus. 95% of children in the Netherlands become infected with the chickenpox virus during their childhood. When infected, they may develop mild flu-like symptoms and after one or two days, red bumps will appear on the skin. The blisters that appear afterwards cause a lot of itching. After about 10 days the symptoms disappear and after seven days the blisters dry up. In most cases, people do not get very ill; sometimes serious complications such as encephalitis can develop.
The chickenpox virus remains in the body and can become active again later in life. The virus can then cause shingles.
How do you get chickenpox?
Chicken pox is highly contagious and is transmitted by coughing, sneezing and talking. A person is contagious as early as two days before the blisters appear; this continues until all the blisters have a scab. A person can also become infected through contact with the fluid from the blisters.
What can you do to prevent chickenpox?
It is difficult to protect yourself from chickenpox. This is because a person is contagious two days before symptoms appear. You can get vaccinated against chickenpox.
What protection does the chickenpox vaccination offer?
The chickenpox vaccination consists of two shots and can be given from the age of 12 months. The second dose is given four weeks after the first dose. The vaccination provides protection for at least 14 years.
How much will a chickenpox vaccination cost?
The cost of a chickenpox vaccination is in some cases covered by your health insurance. Check with your health insurance company whether the vaccination is (partially) covered. For more information on prices, please visit our prices page.
Questions or schedule an appointment?
Do you have questions or would you like to book an appointment for a personal consultation? Use the button below, email us at info@vaccinatiecentrum.nl or call 085-9020303.
Please note!
This vaccine is generally available within a few days but is not always in stock at every location. Please contact us by phone before your appointment.
Pneumococci
Pneumococcal disease
What is pneumococcal disease?
Pneumococci are bacteria of which there are more than ninety different types. People can carry the bacteria in the nose without becoming ill themselves. An infection with the pneumococcal bacteria can be the cause of various diseases, which in that case are called pneumococcal disease. In young children it often involves ear infection, sinusitis and/or bronchitis. In elderly people over 60, it often involves sudden pneumonia.
In some cases, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream. This is known as invasive pneumococcal disease from which a person can become seriously ill. In children under 5 years of age, invasive pneumococcal disease can cause blood poisoning or meningitis. Depending on the disease, the symptoms of pneumococcal disease also differ.
How do you get pneumococcal disease?
The bacteria are spread by coughing or sneezing. Children under the age of five, people aged 60 and over and people with reduced immunity are particularly at risk of pneumococcal disease.
Other high-risk groups include those with (functional) asplenia, those with a cochlear implant, those with (traumatic) liquor leakage/fistula and immuno-compromised individuals.
What can you do to prevent pneumococcal disease?
You can be vaccinated against pneumococcal disease. There are different vaccinations that protect against the various types of pneumococci. Depending on your age and health, the recommended vaccine may differ. We will be happy to give you personal advice on this.
What protection does the pneumococcal vaccination offer?
Vaccinatiecentrum.nl offers three different vaccinations against pneumococcal disease. Pneumovax 23 is the vaccine that has also been offered in the Dutch National Vaccination Programme to everyone aged 60 and over since 2020. This vaccine offers five-year protection against 23 types of pneumococcal disease. In addition, we also offer Prevenar13. This vaccine offers lifelong protection against 13 types of pneumococci. Finally, we offer Apexxnar. This vaccine offers lifelong protection against 20 types of pneumococci.
What are the side effects of a pneumococcal vaccination?
The pneumococcal vaccine may cause mild side effects. For example, the injection site may be painful, red or swollen. Mild fever and muscle pain also occur; this usually goes away within two days.
How much will a pneumococcal vaccination cost?
People aged 60 and above have been invited to be vaccinated against pneumococcal disease through the national vaccination programme since 2018. Because not all elderly people can be vaccinated at once, this will be done in stages until 2024. Are you under 60 or don’t want to wait for your invitation? You can also get vaccinated at your own expense. If you have supplementary health insurance, a pneumococcal vaccination may be covered by your health insurance, consult your health insurance company about this. For more information on our prices, please visit our prices page.
Questions or schedule an appointment?
Do you have questions or would you like to book an appointment for the pneumococcal vaccination? Use the button below, email us at info@vaccinatiecentrum.nl or call 085-9020303.
Cervical cancer (HPV)
Cervical cancer (HPV)
Cervical cancer can be caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). In total, there are more than 100 HPV types. Some of these are high-risk HPV types which can cause (preliminary stages of) several types of cancer. There are also low-risk HPV types that can cause other illnesses such as genital warts.
The most common type of cancer caused by HPV is cervical cancer. HPV can also cause cancer in the vagina, labia, anus, penis, mouth or pharynx. Every year, nearly 1,000 women and 500 men in the Netherlands get cancer caused by the human papillomavirus.
How do you get HPV?
HPV is sexually transmitted and highly contagious. 80-90% of people are infected with HPV once in their lifetime. Often this is without symptoms. Sometimes the virus is not neutralised by the body and remains present in the body. This can lead to cancer or genital warts.
What can you do to prevent HPV?
In the Netherlands, the HPV vaccination for children is part of the National Vaccination Programme (RVP). Girls turning 13 receive an invitation to get two free HPV vaccinations. However, the vaccine used within the RVP does not protect against genital warts. Since 2022, girls as well as boys turning 9 years old will receive the vaccination.
If you have not yet had the HPV vaccination but are not eligible for a vaccination through the RVP, you can be vaccinated at vaccinatiecentrum.nl. You can also be vaccinated at our clinic if you want to be protected against more types of the HPV virus than the vaccination via the RVP provides.
What protection does the HPV vaccination offer?
The human papillomavirus vaccination consists of two doses. There is six months between the two doses. The vaccine provides at least 7.5 years of protection, as far as is known now. The vaccine we use at vaccinatiecentrum.nl offers protection against more types of HPV than the vaccine used in the National Vaccination Programme.
What are the side effects of an HPV vaccination?
The HPV vaccination may cause mild side effects. For example, the injection site may be painful, red or swollen. You may also experience itching or muscle pain around the injection site. Some people have mild flu symptoms after the vaccination, such as fever, fatigue, headache, abdominal pain and nausea.
How much will an HPV vaccination cost?
For more information on the prices of an HPV vaccination, please visit our prices page.
Questions or schedule an appointment?
Do you have questions or would you like to book an appointment for a personal consultation? Use the button below, email us at info@vaccinatiecentrum.nl or call 085-9020303.
Shingles (Shingrix vaccination)
What is shingles?
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is an infectious skin disease characterised by painful blisters on one side of the body. The blisters form a sort of belt over the body, hence the name. Shingles often affects one arm or leg or one half of the face, back or chest.
The disease progresses in stages. At first, an unpleasant sensation develops at the spot where the blisters will later appear. This can be pain, but also tingling, itching or a burning sensation. A few days later, small, red blisters appear. These blisters are filled with fluid and can cause a lot of pain and itching. After about seven to 10 days, the blisters dry into scabs, but new blisters may appear after a week since the appearance of the first blisters. In some cases, no blisters appear at all and there is only itching and pain. Shingles on the face can additionally lead to impaired vision.
After the blisters disappear, (severe) pain in the affected area may persist for some time. This is called post-herpetic neuralgia, or nerve pain after shingles. The nerve pain that can be caused by shingles is due to the inflammation of sensory nerves.
How do you get shingles?
The cause of shingles is the chickenpox virus. Once a person has had chickenpox, the virus remains in an inactive form in the body. Eventually, however, this virus can become active again. This usually happens when someone temporarily suffers from reduced immunity. Reduced immunity can have several causes, including:
- Sleep deprivation;
- Prolonged stress;
- An unhealthy diet;
- Medication, including chemotherapy and prednisone;
- Congenital immune disorders;
- Infectious immune disorders, including AIDS;
- Autoimmune disorders.
Reduced immunity is not the only factor involved in the development of shingles. When a person is over 60 years old, the risk of contracting shingles increases and the symptoms are generally worse. A person who has had shingles in the past has an increased risk of getting it again.
An adult who has never had chickenpox will first get chickenpox when infected with the chickenpox virus and cannot get shingles right away. Shingles cannot be contracted directly when a person has not had chickenpox first. After this, the virus remains inactive in the body, as in people who have had chickenpox as a child. From then on, it is possible to get shingles in the future.
What can you do to prevent shingles?
There is a vaccine available that helps prevent shingles and nerve pain after shingles. This vaccine, called Shingrix, is specially designed for people who have had chickenpox before.
The Shingrix vaccination is used for:
• Adults aged 50 and above;
• Adults aged 18 years and over at higher risk of developing shingles.
The vaccine is intended for people aged 18 and above.
How does the shingles vaccine work?
The vaccine contains proteins from the surface of the virus that causes shingles. The vaccine also contains a number of substances that enhance the immune system’s response to the virus.
Because the body is able to produce antibodies against the virus faster after vaccination, the risk of developing shingles is significantly reduced. Clinical studies have shown Shingrix to be 90% effective in preventing shingles in people over 50 years old The vaccine can also prevent the development of nerve pain. In many countries, Shingrix is widely given to elderly people aged sixty and above.
What protection does the shingles vaccination offer?
The shingles vaccination consists of two doses. The second dose is given within two to six months of the first dose. A booster vaccination is usually not necessary, but may be given if desired or when necessary.
How much will a shingles vaccination cost?
If you meet some (strict) conditions, a shingles vaccination (Shingrix) may be reimbursed by your (Dutch) basic health insurance. If not, the vaccination is at your own expense. For more information, please visit our prices page.
Any questions or want to book an appointment?
Do you have questions or would you like to book an appointment for a shingles vaccination? Use the button below, email us at info@vaccinatiecentrum.nl or call 085-9020303.