The National Health Care Institute has advised the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) to reimburse nirsevimab (Beyfortus®) through the basic healthcare package. This injection against the RS virus (RSV) can be used to prevent lower respiratory tract disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RS virus). The Minister has since adopted our recommendation. That means that, as of 1 October 2025, nirsevimab will be reimbursed under the health care insurer's basic healthcare package for the specified group of patients. However, we do recommend additional conditions for reimbursement.
Update, October 2025: nirsevimab (Beyfortus®) will be reimbursed as of 1 October 2025
The Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport has adopted the recommendation of the National Health Care Institute. This means that, as of 1 October 2025, nirsevimab (Beyfortus®) will be reimbursed under certain conditions.
Nirsevimab is intended for certain children at increased risk of severe RS virus disease
Nirsevimab is the active substance; the brand name is Beyfortus®. The medicine is administered by injection.
RS virus is the most common cold virus in children, occurring mainly in the winter months from November to March. This is also referred to as the “RSV season”. Infection usually causes mild symptoms but can lead to severe respiratory tract infections such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia in high-risk groups. Very young children and certain groups of children who already have other medical conditions have a higher risk of severe illness when infected with the RS virus. As a result hospital admission may be required.
The injection against RS virus can be used in children aged younger than 2 years. For all children younger than 6 months, the RS virus injection is offered through the Dutch National Immunisation Programme. To be properly protected against the RS virus, they should receive the injection in the autumn, before the start of the RSV season.
Advice from the National Health Care Institute on the reimbursement of nirsevimab (Beyfortus®)
The National Health Care Institute advises the Minister of VWS to reimburse nirsevimab (Beyfortus®) through the basic healthcare package. The recommendation is to include the medicinal product in List 1A of the GVS, in a newly-formed cluster together with palivizumab. Specific additional conditions, known as List 2 conditions, apply for nirsevimab (Beyfortus®). The standard dose has been set at 0.55 mg for nirsevimab and at 2.3 mg for palivizumab.
For more information about the GVS and Lists 1A, 1B and 2, see the page on ‘Reimbursement of outpatient medicines’.
The children in question are those who have an increased risk of becoming severely ill when infected with the RSV virus during their second RSV season:
- aged under 1 year and with bronchopulmonary dysplasia
- aged under 1 year and with severe immunodeficiency
- aged under 1 year and with severe pulmonary pathology caused by cystic fibrosis
- aged under 2 years and with a congenital heart defect that is haemodynamically significant
- aged under 2 years and reliant on oxygen therapy for treating bronchopulmonary dysplasia
- aged under 2 years and with Down’s syndrome.
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 Minister of VWS requests the National Health Care Institute to carry out an assessment. The Minister makes the final decision whether or not to the medicinal product will be reimbursed under the basic healthcare package.
Explanation about the reimbursement of medicinal products
Nirsevimab is an extramural drug. ‘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 healthcare package if they are listed in the GVS.