Vaccinations against shingles will be added to the national vaccination programme for people over the age of 60, sources have told RTL Nieuws.

The measure is expected to form part of a new healthcare agreement which is currently being finalised, RTL said. Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a viral disease that causes a skin rash with blisters in a specific area of the body, and can be particularly painful for older people.

Since 2019, the national health council Gezondheidsraad has recommended that people over 60 be vaccinated against the virus. But until now this has been at their own cost, which can run to several hundred euros.

The government previously estimated the cost of vaccinating everyone over 60 would be €185 million over the first five years, and €32 million annually after that.

The RTL sources also said that more money will be set aside for dental hygiene, anti-obesity medication for people on low incomes, and increasing the number of young people receiving the HPV vaccine.

Plans are also being developed to offer MRI scans to women with very dense breast tissue to help detect breast cancer.