Organisation

Origin
The Netherlands Vaccine Institute (NVI) was established in January 2003 as the result of the merger between the government-run vaccine production unit, SVM, and the Vaccine Division of the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). This new institute reflected more than 100 years of extensive knowledge and experience gained through research and production. 

Uniqueness
The NVI is one of the few government-based vaccine institutes left in the world. The Dutch government opted for an NVI that would be sufficiently independent of commercial vaccine suppliers in the case of vaccine shortages. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport remains responsible for the content of the National Immunisation Programme, and decisions on developing and producing vaccines in-house or purchasing them on the market. 

The Netherlands Vaccine Institute:
Over 100 years of vaccine experience in the public domain