For the time being, parents cannot have their small children vaccinated against the rotavirus that causes stomach and intestinal infections for free. State Secretary Van Ooijen of VWS writes to the House of Representatives that there is no money available to pay for this extra vaccination.
Last year, the Health Council advised that the administration of the drinking vaccine should be included in the National Immunization Programme. Van Ooijen’s predecessor Blokhuis was positive about this, but left a final decision to the new cabinet.
An infection with the virus can be severe. About 3,600 children under the age of five end up in hospital with it every year.
Make choices
According to the state secretary, general vaccination against the virus is not cost-effective and there is no money for the extra investment. During the negotiations on the Spring Memorandum, choices had to be made.
It has been decided to spend money on more vaccinations against the HPV virus that causes cervical cancer. People aged 18 to 26 will have the opportunity to catch up with the vaccination. The target groups for the flu shot are also being expanded, including people who have lung covid.
‘Prefer to see it differently’
As a result, there is no money left for vaccination against the rotavirus. “Of course I would have preferred it differently,” says Van Ooijen. “Financial resources are really limited at the moment.”
Parents can have their child vaccinated against rota, but then they have to pay for it themselves. That costs about 138 euros for two necessary doses. The vaccine is available on prescription from the general practitioner, some GGDs and vaccination centers.
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