TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The National Health Insurance Administration said Friday that coverage for respiratory syncytial virus monoclonal antibody treatment has been expanded to include a larger group of premature infants.
Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a leading cause of hospitalization in young children due to bronchiolitis and pneumonia, with most infections occurring in children under 1 year old. Nearly all children are infected by RSV before the age of 2, according to a joint report by Taiwan's medical associations.
Administration Director Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) said Taiwan records about 200,000 RSV-related hospitalizations annually. Children under 10 years old account for half of these cases.
The number of confirmed RSV cases in Taiwan in 2023 had risen 1.7 times compared to 2022 and 4.3 times compared to 2021. Premature infants are particularly vulnerable, facing higher risks of severe illness, hospitalization, and complications such as breathing difficulties, cyanosis, and respiratory failure, according to CNA and Hsinchu MacKay Memorial Hospital.
In 2023, Taiwan’s premature birth rate was 10.88%, meaning about one in 10 newborns was born before 37 weeks of gestation. Before the policy update, National Health Insurance coverage for RSV monoclonal antibody treatment was limited to infants born before 33 weeks, who could receive up to six monthly doses.
Starting June 1, coverage has expanded to include infants born before 36 weeks, who are now eligible for up to three monthly doses under the insurance scheme. This change is expected to benefit approximately 8,600 premature infants annually, including about 4,393 born between 33 and 36 weeks and 4,240 born before 33 weeks.
Each injection costs roughly NT$10,000 (US$339), with the administration’s annual expenditure estimated between NT$400 million and NT$500 million. Families may save up to NT$60,000 per child in medical expenses through this preventive treatment.
Peng Chun-chih (彭純芝), Standing Director of the Taiwan Society of Neonatology, encouraged parents of eligible premature infants under 1 year old to promptly bring their babies to medical facilities for RSV monoclonal antibody injections. Besides providing protection against RSV, the monthly treatments allow healthcare providers to closely monitor infants’ growth and development, promoting better long-term health outcomes, Peng said.
