This week, starting next week, the Balearic health system will immunize all babies born between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024 against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which will protect them against the virus. Bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory infections.
The Balearic Islands are investing €1.9 million to extend this immunization to all newborns for the first time, regardless of whether they have risk factors. Expanding RSV immunization to all babies in the Islands is one of the first decisions of the current government.
To date, the RSV vaccine (which causes 80% of bronchiolitis cases) has only been given to high-risk infants (those born prematurely under 35 weeks, immunosuppressed or with respiratory or heart disease, or those with serious illness under 24 weeks) . ).
Typically transmitted between October and March, RSV is an infectious agent that primarily affects infants under one year of age and is often a leading cause of respiratory infections, particularly associated with bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
The National Health Commission approved universal immunization with the monoclonal antibody nirumab for all minors born from April 2023, leaving the decision-making and organization of the action to each autonomous region.
The previous executive avoided making this decision and left it to the new government team, which opted for universal immunization as soon as they took office, delayed the start of the universal campaign, and urgently purchased the first batch of nirumab to accelerate Already..
The first project aims to protect babies with dangerous diseases who have been receiving immunizations in hospitals since October last year. Starting next week, this immunization will be extended to all babies born between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024.
RSV infection overwhelms primary care and emergency health care every year and is the cause of significant hospitalizations in ICUs and inpatient units. Nirsevimab is a monoclonal antibody administered as a vaccine.
A single dose provides protection for at least five months. When the antibodies are given directly to the baby, the newborn or the mother’s immune system is not dependent on the immune system for protection, and the effect occurs immediately after administration.
Nirsevimab has been shown to be highly effective in preventing the disease and reducing the severity of respiratory infections, preventing more than 80% of RSV hospitalizations in infants. It will not interfere with any vaccines on the schedule and can be given at the same time.
Administering nirsevimab to neonates will occur at the same hospital where they were born prior to discharge. For babies born on or after April 1, vaccinations will be given at health centres.
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