Washington, D.C. 鈥� (August 3, 2023) 鈥� Matt Eyles, President and CEO of AHIP, issued this statement following the recommendation of a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) therapy for newborns and particularly vulnerable young children by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP):
Every child deserves to be protected from life-threatening illnesses. That鈥檚 why health insurance providers continue to actively encourage families to protect their children with proven preventive care and immunizations.
Today鈥檚 recommendation of a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) therapy for newborns and particularly vulnerable young children is another positive step in the fight to keep children safe and healthy by decreasing the risk and incidence of severe disease. RSV is responsible for approximately 58,000 hospitalizations a year for children 5 and under.
Health insurance providers have always educated and encouraged parents to ensure children are up to date on routine and preventive care.
We look forward to working with clinicians on ensuring access to these new therapies, and strongly encourage the manufacturers of new RSV therapies to responsibly set the launch prices at affordable levels.