New Treatment Considerably reduces Hospitalizations from Common Infant Virus
Brussels, Belgium – A new treatment, Beyfortus, is dramatically reducing hospitalizations among infants at risk from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a common respiratory virus that surges each autumn and winter. According to the SCIENO Public Health Institute, the treatment lowered hospitalization rates by 83% in children under one year old.
Last year in Belgium, approximately 4,000 hospitalizations were avoided thanks to Beyfortus, representing a 40% decrease in severe RSV cases. Unlike traditional vaccines, Beyfortus provides immunization through directly administered antibodies, offering immediate protection rather than stimulating the body’s own immune response.The treatment is fully reimbursed in Belgium, ensuring accessibility for families.
The optimal timing for administering Beyfortus to babies born between February and late September 2025 is early October, just before the onset of winter and the peak of the RSV epidemic. This timing aims to provide protection throughout the entire cold season.
For infants born between October 2025 and February 2026, two preventative options are available: a single injection of antibodies at the maternity ward, or vaccination of the mother during pregnancy, between the 28th and 36th week, to pass antibodies to the baby naturally. These measures promise a healthier winter for many infants, minimizing complications linked to RSV.
