Start vaccination against bronchiolitis

Since last Thursday, September 14, the SAS has been summoning parents and guardians of children under six months of age. Approximately 63,600 doses have been procured for the 2023-2024 campaign, with a total budget of €13.8 million. As the committee detailed in a statement, the doses will be administered to all children born between October 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, and between April 1, 2023, and September 30, 2023 All babies born.

In addition, the drugs will be used in children younger than 1 year old with a history of prematurity of less than 35 weeks, and other infants younger than 24 months with very high-risk chronic conditions.

This immunization effectively and safely prevents infection with this virus, a respiratory disease that occurs especially in autumn and winter.

The Department of Health and Consumer Affairs recommends that all parents of children under six months of age accept an invitation to receive RSV immunization. Last year, the virus resulted in 301 minors being hospitalized at one time in Andalusia (during the peak period in November). According to SAS records, a total of 2,581 children under one year of age required admission to hospital due to RSV in 2022.

By province, the estimated doses in each province are: Almeria, 7,435; Cádiz, 8,691; Córdoba, 5,417; Granada, 7,943; Huelva, 4,141; Jaén, 4,814; Málaga , 11,819, Seville, 13,341. A monoclonal antibody against RSV – called Nirsevimab, commercially known as Beyfortus – will be used for the first time in Andalusia. In this way, the autonomous region continues to focus on health prevention, with one of the most advanced vaccination programs in the country.

This measure is in addition to the annual influenza vaccination program launched in Andalusia during 2022-2023 for children aged 6 months to 5 years (59 months) and aims to protect children as much as possible from the most serious diseases Common influenza virus infections. Respiratory illnesses were more likely to lead to hospital admission. In the first year of childhood influenza vaccination, more than 45% of the target population has been vaccinated.

On the other hand, the General Directorate of Public Health and Drug Regulation has included RSV in the sentinel surveillance program for acute respiratory infections in primary and hospital care, thus joining the joint Covid19/influenza surveillance strategy developed for the 2020-2021 season.