The National Health Care Institute has advised the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) to expand the reimbursement conditions for the recombinant herpes zoster vaccine (Shingrix®). Herpes zoster is the medical term for shingles. Shingrix® is already included in the Medicine Reimbursement System (GVS) with reimbursement conditions. It can be used to prevent herpes zoster and nerve pain as a result of this. The Minister has since adopted our advice. This means that recombinant herpes zoster vaccine will also be reimbursed for patients who will be treated with an immunosuppressive biological or a JAK inhibitor. The reimbursement will take effect on 1 January 2025.
Shingrix is intended to prevent herpes zoster and nerve pain in adults aged 18 or older who have an increased risk
Recombinant herpes zoster (RZV) vaccine is the active substance. The brand name is Shingrix®. The vaccine is an injection.
The RZV vaccines can be used to prevent herpes zoster and nerve pain as a result of this. The expansion of the reimbursement conditions has been requested for adults aged 18 and over who are at an increased risk of becoming seriously ill if they get herpes zoster. They run the risk of being hospitalised. The vaccine was already included in the GVS with further conditions, the so-called List 2 conditions, in 2021.
Advice from the National Health Care Institute on the reimbursement of Shingrix®
The National Health Care Institute advises the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport to add the following group, in addition to the existing medical high-risk groups:
- an insured person who is or will be treated with an immunosuppressive biological or Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor.
For more information on the GVS and the Lists 1A, 1B and 2, see page ‘Reimbursement of extramural drugs (GVS)’.
More information or questions?
If you have any questions about this advice, please send your question to the National Health Care Institute via warcg@zinl.nl. If you have questions about the reimbursement of a medicinal product, the personal expenses or whether you should pay a contribution, please ask your health insurance provider.
How did the advice come about?
The Scientific Advisory Board (WAR) advises the National Health Care Institute about the assessment. The Minister makes the final decision whether or not to reimburse the medicinal product from the basic health care package.
Explanation about the reimbursement of medicinal products
RZV vaccine is an extramural medicinal product. Extramural means: medicines for home use that can be obtained at the pharmacy with a prescription from a physician. They are only reimbursed from the basic health care package if they are listed in the GVS.