Madrid to Immunize Breastfed Infants Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Starting this October
This fall, the Community of Madrid is set to introduce immunization against the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), which causes bronchiolitis in children, specifically breastfed infants aged six months and below.
According to Enrique Ruiz Escudero, the acting Minister of Health, this immunization process will be carried out in public hospitals with a specific summons system that will open after the summer.
Madrid to Become One of the First Regions to Facilitate Immunization Against RSV
The Community of Madrid’s initiative to introduce immunization against RSV is in line with its preventive measures announced in March before the next RSV epidemic season during autumn and winter.
The General Directorate of Public Health of the Community of Madrid has also started procedures for the acquisition of doses of the monoclonal antibody Niservimab and is finalizing the design of the Surveillance and Control Protocol for RSV bronchiolitis.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
The Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a common and highly contagious seasonal pathogen that typically infects infants, affecting the lower respiratory tract. Its detection rates generally rise in October and reach epidemic levels between December and January.
RSV is the leading cause of most bronchiolitis and pneumonia cases in babies under one year of age. It has been observed that 78% of severe cases of bronchiolitis in Spain are caused by RSV, and approximately 30% of healthy children hospitalized for RSV require intensive care.
Of the cases of RSV infection that required hospital admission within the Community of Madrid last year, 92% were under one year of age, with the maximum incidence peak hitting epidemiological week 47 with an incidence of 400 urgent admissions/100,000 inhabitants.
