After the easing of COVID‑19 restrictions, the Netherlands experienced its largest pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak since 2012. According to a study by the RIVM, 6.3% of the national population was infected over two years, while 35% of children aged 6 to 18 were affected. Most cases were mild or asymptomatic; 16% of infected children had cough lasting more than two weeks. The study examined 418 participants (ages 2–87) who provided blood samples and health questionnaires between November 2022 and October 2024. Findings showed that children 6 to 12 had the lowest antibody levels because their last vaccination was at age four, prompting a shift of the booster to age five in 2025. Lower antibodies to the FHA protein were associated with infection. The data underline that vaccines guard against severe disease, but pertussis can circulate undetected, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and vaccine improvement.
© National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM).
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