The risk groups for preventive medication against RSV have been confirmed
Keywords:In Finland, nirsevimab will be offered to all children born during the 2024-2025 winter RSV epidemic and to those under three months of age when the epidemic starts.
In addition, nirsevimab will be offered to children under one year of age in certain groups at risk of severe RSV infection. Infants born during the RSV season receive it shortly after birth in the maternity hospital. Older infants (born from 1.8.2024) will receive the antibody at a child health clinic visit.
Turku University Hospital (Tyks) invites children under one year of age in the following risk groups to the hospital for administration of medication:
- Born before the week 29+0 of pregnancy
- Heart defect or disease for which surgery is planned or requires continuous medication
- Severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), of a premature infant which has required respiratory support for the past six months, or a similar severe chronic lung disease or respiratory insufficiency
- Severe immunodeficiency according to the assessment of the attending physician
Other children under the age of one belonging to risk groups receive the antibody at the child health clinic. If the child belongs to the risk groups listed below, please contact the child health clinic:
- Born between 29+0 - 36+6 weeks of pregnancy and sibling under 6 years of age
- Down syndrome
Read also our previous news on the subject (in Finnish).
Care instructions: Prevention of serious RSV disease in infants with an antibody.pdf (hoito-ohjeet.fi)