From January 1, 2025, the government will withdraw a vaccine that allows expectant mothers to protect their babies from the RSV virus. This was reported by the Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit).
The decision means that mothers will soon have two options to protect their child from RSV. After all, last summer it was already decided to refund the RSV protection drug Beyfortus for babies.
From next year it will also be possible through vaccination for pregnant women who give birth during the RSV season. The Abrysvo vaccine ensures that antibodies are produced that are given to the baby, so that the baby is immediately protected at birth.
“Too many babies in our country are still infected with the RSV virus. And we see that the number of hospitalizations decreases significantly when the mother receives the vaccine or when the child receives the RSV drug,” Vandenbroucke said. “Hospitals are under pressure every year during the winter because of the number of respiratory infections. By also getting the vaccine back, we are not only protecting the little ones, but we are also easing the pressure on our care.”
RSV, the respiratory syncytial virus, causes respiratory infections in young children. In severe cases, infection can lead to hospitalization or even death. The health organization Sciensano records around 7,000 cases of RSV infection in Belgium every year.
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2024-11-28 07:50:00
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