Sweden to Protect Newborns with New RSV Preventative Treatment
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In a proactive move to safeguard infant health, Sweden will begin offering a preventative treatment for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) to all children born during the winter season. This isn’t a vaccine, explains Dr. Per Brolin, a physician specializing in pediatric and youth medicine at CSK, Central Hospital in Karlstad, but rather a preventative measure designed to shield vulnerable newborns.
RSV is a leading cause of airway infections in young children, especially during the colder months, and can, in some instances, lead to severe illness requiring hospitalization. The recommendation to offer this treatment nationwide comes from the national NT council, in collaboration with the Public Health Authority, recognizing the potential for serious complications in infants.
Six Months of Protection with a Single Dose
The treatment, a long-acting antibody administered shortly after birth, provides approximately six months of protection against RSV. Dr. Brolin emphasizes the timing of the treatment: “The RS virus is primarily prevalent during the winter. Thus, the treatment is administered only during this period. Administering it to children born in the spring or summer wouldn’t be beneficial, as the protection lasts only six months and RSV circulation is minimal during those seasons.”
Health officials anticipate that this preventative measure will substantially reduce the number of infants experiencing severe RSV illness, thereby easing the burden on the healthcare system during peak infection periods.
Expanding Access Across Europe
The rollout in Sweden will begin on september 10, 2025, with all newborns eligible to receive the treatment in their first few days of life. Premature infants and those with other risk factors will be eligible for booster doses up to two years of age. The treatment will be available to all children born before the RSV season concludes.
This treatment has already received approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and is currently being utilized in several other european countries, including Finland, Spain, and Italy, demonstrating its safety and efficacy. This widespread adoption signals a growing commitment to proactive infant health strategies across the continent.
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