The RSV antibody injection protects babies from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV infection can make newborn babies very ill. Sometimes they  have to go to hospital. The aim is to offer the RSV antibody injection to all babies in the Netherlands from autumn 2025 on.

What is the RSV antibody injection?

The RSV antibody injection protects babies from serious illness due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The injection works immediately and offers protection for at least five months. That is long enough to cover an entire RSV season. RSV occurs mainly in winter.

The RSV antibody injection contains nirsevimab. This is a medicine that has antibodies against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). An antibody injection is a form of passive immunisation. It is not exactly the same as a vaccination. When you are vaccinated, your body makes antibodies. In passive immunisation, those antibodies are already present in the injection.

Effective protection

The RSV antibody injection offers effective protection against serious illness and hospital admission due to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The injection prevents about 80% of hospital admissions due to RSV in babies. Out of every 100 babies who would be admitted to hospital without the RSV antibody injection, 80 of those babies will not have to go to hospital after all. It does not offer 100% protection against infection, and babies may still become ill after receiving the RSV antibody injection. But the risk of hospital admission is very low after the RSV antibody injection.

The RSV antibody injection is already given to babies in various other countries, including France and Luxembourg.  The vast majority of babies in those countries receive the injection. As a result, there has been a sharp decline (about 80%) in the number of babies hospitalised due to RSV infection in these countries.

Very few side effects

The RSV antibody injection is very safe and almost never causes side effects. This is because passive immunisation does not require the body to produce its own antibodies, unlike vaccination. If there are any side effects, they are generally mild and go away within two days. See the package leaflet for more information.

Advisory opinion of the Health Council

In early 2024, the Health Council of the Netherlands advised offering the RSV antibody injection to all babies in the Netherlands during their first twelve months of life. The State Secretary of Health, Welfare and Sport adopted that advisory opinion. The aim is to include this form of immunisation against RSV in the National Immunisation Programme from autumn 2025 on.

At what age do babies receive the RSV antibody injection?

Babies do not all get the RSV antibody injection at the same age. This is because RSV occurs mainly in winter, and the protection offered by the injection lasts for at least five months. That is why the season in which the babies were born is taken into account:

  • Babies born just before or during the RSV season will be offered the RSV antibody injection within two weeks of birth.
  • Babies born after the RSV season will be offered the RSV antibody injection before the start of their first RSV season.

The RSV antibody injection is offered only in the first twelve months of life.

Vaccination against RSV during pregnancy

Besides the RSV antibody injection for babies, there is also a vaccination against RSV for use during pregnancy. This protects your baby against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for the period right after birth. You will need to pay for this vaccination yourself. To arrange RSV vaccination, please contact your GP or the Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs).

FAQ

Can my baby get the RSV antibody injection now?

No, the RSV antibody injection with nirsevimab is not yet available in the Netherlands. The aim is to offer the RSV antibody injection to all babies in the Netherlands from autumn 2025 on.

Why will it be some time before all babies can get an RSV antibody injection?

Many arrangements need to be made with various organisations in order to offer a new medicine to all babies in the Netherlands. Nirsevimab is a new medicine that will be given to a very young age group. For that reason, it is important to take extra care in making these arrangements. That takes time. 

Why is the RSV antibody injection already available to babies in other countries?

In many countries, babies are born in hospital by default. In the Netherlands, however, babies can be born at home or in hospital. That makes it more difficult to offer the RSV antibody injection to all babies soon after they are born.

When should a baby not receive an RSV antibody injection?

A baby that is hypersensitive to the active substance or any of the excipients should not be given nirsevimab. It is important to use extra caution in giving injections to babies with congenital clotting disorders.

Why is palivizumab not given to all babies?

Only babies at increased risk of becoming seriously ill from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are given palivizumab. There are a number of reasons for this:

  • Palivizumab is only authorised for children from a number of medical risk groups. Nirsevimab is authorised for all babies.
  • Palivizumab is covered by basic health insurance for specific risk groups. Nirsevimab is not covered by basic health insurance.
  • Nirsevimab offers protection for at least five months – the same time period as an average RSV season.  Palivizumab only offers protection for four weeks. For that reason, palivizumab would have to be given up to five times per RSV season. 
  • Palivizumab is less effective than nirsevimab in protecting against serious illness due to RSV. Palivizumab offers about 55% protection, compared to about 80% protection from nirsevimab.

Palivizumab is prescribed by a paediatrician.

Why is nirsevimab preferable to palivizumab?

  1. The nirsevimab injection is more effective against RSV than the palivizumab injection (about 80% versus 55%).
  2. The RSV antibody injection with nirsevimab gives longer-lasting protection (at least 5 months), so one injection per RSV season is sufficient. Palivizumab offers 4 weeks of protection after each injection. To provide protection during an entire RSV season, which usually lasts about 5 months, children need five injections of palivizumab.
  3. Nirsevimab is authorised for all babies. Palivizumab is only authorised for babies from specific medical risk groups.

Why are some children in risk groups still receiving 5 doses of palivizumab in hospital instead of 1 dose of nirsevimab?

Nirsevimab is not yet covered by basic health insurance, while palivizumab is covered for certain risk groups. See also the advisory opinion issued by the National Health Care Institute (Zorginstituut Nederland) on protection against RSV for babies.

My baby has an increased risk of serious illness from RSV. Can my baby get an RSV antibody injection already?

Babies who are being treated by a paediatrician and have a higher risk of serious illness due to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can receive palivizumab from their paediatrician. Like nirsevimab, this medicine is an injection of antibodies against RSV. Palivizumab is only given to babies in specific medical risk groups.

What can I do to protect my baby from RSV in the 2024-2025 winter season?

To protect your baby from RSV (and other respiratory viruses), it is a good idea to avoid allowing the baby to have direct contact with people who have symptoms of respiratory infections, such as a nasal cold. Hand hygiene and fresh air are important. There is also a vaccination against RSV during pregnancy. This protects your baby against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for the period right after birth. You will need to pay for this vaccination yourself. To arrange RSV vaccination, please contact your GP or the Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs).