Budget Impact Analysis of Introducing Nirsevimab Into the National Immunization Program for Infants in Korea
Author(s)
Eunah Jung, MS student1, Shinyoung Park, PharmD1, Seongmin Yoon, BS Student2, Eunjin Bae, MPH, MS3, Minseok Gong, PharmD3, Hyun Woo Jeong, PharmD3, Hae Sun Suh, MPharm, MA, PhD4.
1Department of Regulatory Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Institute of Regulatory Innovation through Science (IRIS), Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 2College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 3Sanofi-Aventis Korea, Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 4College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Department of Regulatory Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Institute of Regulatory Innovation through Science (IRIS), Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea, Republic of.
1Department of Regulatory Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Institute of Regulatory Innovation through Science (IRIS), Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 2College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 3Sanofi-Aventis Korea, Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 4College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Department of Regulatory Science, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Institute of Regulatory Innovation through Science (IRIS), Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea, Republic of.
Presentation Documents
OBJECTIVES: To analyze the budget impact of introducing nirsevimab into Korea’s National Immunization Program (NIP) to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants.
METHODS: A budget impact analysis was conducted with a societal perspective, assuming NIP implementation for nirsevimab in October 2025, using 2025 birth estimates over a one-year period. The current strategy of palivizumab for high-risk children <24 months was compared to nirsevimab for all infants <12 months and high-risk children <24 months. Disease incidence and preventive efficacy were derived from literature. RSV-related medical costs and hospitalization rates were estimated using nationwide claims data (2017-2021) from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Caregiver productivity loss was estimated from surveys using the validated Korean Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire, collected from caregivers with RSV care experience. Costs associated with RSV outbreaks in postpartum care centers were estimated through expert interviews. Given the one-year horizon, discounting was omitted, and all costs were presented in US dollars. To assess uncertainty, univariate sensitivity and scenario analyses were conducted.
RESULTS: A total of 39,359 RSV cases could be prevented annually, about 73% would require hospitalization. This reduced RSV-related medical costs by $31,210,154, and caregiver productivity loss cost was reduced by $32,646,393 per year. An additional $719,246 could be saved by preventing RSV outbreaks in postpartum care centers. Driven by these cost savings, the net budget impact was -$861,926 per year, despite an additional immunization cost of $63,713,867. RSV incidence and immunization cost were most influential in the sensitivity analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: If nirsevimab is introduced into the NIP in Korea, it could substantially reduce RSV-related medical costs. In addition to improving infant health outcomes, it would also lessen productivity losses for caregivers and reduce the burden on postpartum care centers, thereby contributing to a meaningful reduction in the broader societal impact of RSV infections.
METHODS: A budget impact analysis was conducted with a societal perspective, assuming NIP implementation for nirsevimab in October 2025, using 2025 birth estimates over a one-year period. The current strategy of palivizumab for high-risk children <24 months was compared to nirsevimab for all infants <12 months and high-risk children <24 months. Disease incidence and preventive efficacy were derived from literature. RSV-related medical costs and hospitalization rates were estimated using nationwide claims data (2017-2021) from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Caregiver productivity loss was estimated from surveys using the validated Korean Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire, collected from caregivers with RSV care experience. Costs associated with RSV outbreaks in postpartum care centers were estimated through expert interviews. Given the one-year horizon, discounting was omitted, and all costs were presented in US dollars. To assess uncertainty, univariate sensitivity and scenario analyses were conducted.
RESULTS: A total of 39,359 RSV cases could be prevented annually, about 73% would require hospitalization. This reduced RSV-related medical costs by $31,210,154, and caregiver productivity loss cost was reduced by $32,646,393 per year. An additional $719,246 could be saved by preventing RSV outbreaks in postpartum care centers. Driven by these cost savings, the net budget impact was -$861,926 per year, despite an additional immunization cost of $63,713,867. RSV incidence and immunization cost were most influential in the sensitivity analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: If nirsevimab is introduced into the NIP in Korea, it could substantially reduce RSV-related medical costs. In addition to improving infant health outcomes, it would also lessen productivity losses for caregivers and reduce the burden on postpartum care centers, thereby contributing to a meaningful reduction in the broader societal impact of RSV infections.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EE89
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Health Policy & Regulatory, Health Technology Assessment
Topic Subcategory
Budget Impact Analysis
Disease
Respiratory-Related Disorders (Allergy, Asthma, Smoking, Other Respiratory), Vaccines