The Ministry of Health has announced that it is procuring the drug nirsevimab for which a total of 1.9 million euros, Organize immunization campaigns Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in all children In the 2023-2024 season.
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In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Health said it would include immunization of all children with a disease or condition due to severe RSV infection, as well as healthy children.
compared to The first group includes premature infants under 35 weeks and under 12 months; with congenital heart disease and severely affected hemodynamics, the duration of the disease is up to 24 months; with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, up to 24 months; Patients with other medical conditions such as severe immunosuppression, inborn errors of metabolism, severe neuromuscular or pulmonary disease, genetic syndromes with associated respiratory problems, Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis and receiving palliative care, Up to 24 months.
On the other hand, all healthy children who turn six months of age or are born during the RSV season will be immunized.so they are All children born between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2024.
Likewise, they report that in October 2022, nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody approved in the European Union, “has been shown to be safe and highly effective in preventing disease, especially in the most severe forms, and that protection lasts almost Covers the entire season of the RSV cycle, that is, it is useful for preventing disease in all young infants.”
The drug is administered as a single intramuscular injection and can be safely and effectively administered from birth. For all this, “Public health professionals and the Pediatric and Vaccine Society recommend it for all infants during the first season of RSV transmission. “ From October of one year to March of the next year.
Therefore, the ministry is purchasing the drug and organizing the campaign, and will inform professionals and the public when the drug will start, the tour and where it will be administered.
They also said that “protecting children from this disease benefits them, their families and society at large.” Therefore, “cooperation of all relevant sectors, including families, is critical.”
RSV causes ‘huge burden of disease’ every year
Regarding RSV, they warn that it causes ‘significant burden of disease’ The same was true for the youngest children, especially premature infants, infants with underlying medical conditions, and healthy children under six months of age, whether in terms of infections, hospital admissions, or length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) .
The virus is thus a major cause of bronchiolitis, which consists of inflammation of the bronchi and bronchioles, and accounts for 80% of respiratory illnesses and hospitalizations in children under one year old.
As they explain, an estimated 10 percent of children develop the disease, 1 to 2 percent require hospitalization, and 10 percent are admitted to the intensive care unit. The disease is more common and more severe in premature babies or children with severe medical conditions, but because it is a very common disease, most of those affected are healthy children.
In addition, the most common complication of acute infection is respiratory distress, often requiring oxygen or other respiratory support measures. Young children may have feeding difficulties and other microbial infections may also be seen, mainly otitis media or pneumonia, but also systemic infections.
In addition to short-term complications, the Ministry of Health noted that RSV infection in the first few months of life is associated with asthma and wheezing episodes, ie respiratory distress with wheezing.