A new vaccination campaign to immunise babies against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) may have resulted in a fall in the number of babies being hospitalised with the virus. Since last month, several hospitals in Flanders have been vaccinating almost all the babies that are born in their maternity wards against RSV. This appears to have resulted in far fewer babies requiring hospital treatment for RSV. The ZAS hospital group in Antwerp says, “We currently have hardly any babies that have been admitted with RSV”.
Fewer babies hospitalised with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) possibly thanks to a new vaccination campaign
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Since 1 October parents have been able to get their new-born babies immunised against RSV with the new Beyfortus vaccine. The vaccine is fully-refunded. Vaccination is not madatory. However, the High Council for Health strongly advises parents to get their children vaccinated against the virus.
The vaccination campaign seems to have worked well. The maternity wards at Leuven University Hospital and ZAS in Antwerp report that almost all the babies born there since 1 October have been immunised. Ghent University hospital says that 80% of the babies born there since 1 October have been vaccinated against RSV. Babies born before the start of the vaccination campaign (born between 1 april and 1 October) can also be immunised if their parents wish. They can get vaccinated at their GP’s surgery or by a paediatrician.
The cost of the vaccine is only refunded if the baby was immunised in October, the month in which the RSV seasons starts.
The vaccine is different to other vaccines as with other vaccines contain a small quantity of the virus they are intended to protect the patient against in order to activate antibodies. Here a medicine containing antibodies is injected into the baby. The baby is protected against the virus for 6 months.
What is RSV?
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is an infection that mainly affects children in their first year of life. The virus often leads to inflammation of the airways or lungs.
Cautiously optimistic
Figures from the public health science institute Sciensano's infection show that the number of RSV infections is currently low. In recent years hospitals were recording rises in the figures for RSV infections by mid-November.
Daan Van Brusselen of the ZAS hospital group told VRT News that there are currently hardly any babies with RSV hospitalised there. At Leuven University Hospital says that it is still too early to draw any conclusions and that it will await the onset of winter before assessing the impact of the immunisation campaign.