The infant injection against RSV protects babies from serious illness due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Babies will be offered the injection against RSV from autumn 2025 on. This injection is for babies born on or after 1 April 2025.
Factsheet on RSV injection
| Protects against | Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) |
|---|---|
| Given at | 0 tot 6 months. Babies born from October through March will receive the injection within 2 weeks after being born. Babies born from April through September will receive the injection in September or October. |
| Period of protection | About 6 months |
| Common side effects | The injection almost never has side effects. Very occasionally, babies may get a rash, or the injection site may be red or puffy for a bit. Fever hardly ever happens. If your baby gets a fever, consult the GP. |
When to get the RSV injection
RSV is mainly seen in autumn and winter. The injection against RSV offers protection for about 6 months. That is why the season when your baby is born also determines when the jab will be offered:
- Babies born from October through March will receive the injection within 2 weeks after being born.
- Babies born from April through September will receive the injection in September or October.
Look at the table below to see when the injection will be offered to your baby. Note: the RSV injection is for babies born on or after 1 April 2025.
| My baby was born in: | My baby is scheduled for the RSV |
|---|---|
| April May June July August September | In September of Oktober |
| October November December | Within 2 weeks after the birth |
| January (2026) February March | Within 2 weeks after the birth |
The RSV injection is given as an injection in the upper leg. Babies are vaccinated once, and only within the first year. That is when they are most vulnerable and have the highest risk of hospital admission due to RSV.
Babies are already being vaccinated against RSV in other European countries. In those countries, RSV-related hospital admissions for babies have decreased by 80%.
| When? | Within 2 to 14 days after the injection |
|---|---|
| Happens sometimes | The RSV injection has very few side effects. Very occasionally, babies can suffer from:
|
| Good to know | The injection against RSV is in the form of an injection of antibodies. This is known as immunisation. It does not work exactly the same as a vaccine. A injection helps the body generate its own antibodies. This can cause side effects. An antibody injection does not make the body produce antibodies itself. That is why there are almost never any side effects. |
Nervous about side effects
When your newborn child gets their first injection, you may feel uneasy. It is good to know that the jabs given through the National Immunisation Programme are given in many other countries as well, and there is a lot of experience with these jabs. Studies from all those countries show that the injections are safe. There are no known long-term negative effects.
The RSV injection contains antibodies against RSV. An antibody injection is a form of passive immunisation. It is not exactly the same as a jab. When a person is vaccinated, the body makes its own antibodies. In passive immunisation, those antibodies are already present in the injection. It does not make the body produce antibodies itself.
The page on Vaccine information leaflets also includes the information leaflet about the RSV injection.
You usually do not need to have your child vaccinated early (before the recommended age) because you are planning a trip outside the Netherlands – unless that country has a high risk of infectious diseases. Will you be travelling abroad for a short trip or a longer period, and does your child need injections? Check with the youth healthcare services (JGZ) if you need to adjust your child’s jab schedule.
Do you have questions about jabs that you need for a trip outside the Netherlands? Consult the National Coordination Centre for Travellers Advice (LCR) website (in Dutch). The LCR website includes information on which jabs are advisable and where to make an appointment in your area.
If your child is ill, please contact the organisation that will give the injection: the local youth healthcare services (well-baby clinic). They can tell you if it is a good idea to get the injection right now. Sometimes the injection may be postponed for a bit. The injection is also safe for children with reduced immunity.
The RSV injection is important for all babies. That includes babies with impaired immunity as a result of illness or medication. The injection is safe for children with impaired immunity, but it may be less effective for them. Children with these health conditions always have their case supervised by a treating paediatrician, who can offer more information.
This infographic about the RSV injection presents clear information about RSV and how the RSV injection works.