Prof. Teresa Jackowska: A new antibody is recommended for RS virus prophylaxis

RS virus is dangerous especially for young children. For which groups of children is prophylaxis available at this time?

For several years, a monoclonal antibody has been used in Poland for prevention: palivizumab. It passively prevents infections with the respiratory syncytial virus, which we call RS for short. Covered by this prophylaxis are very important risk groups, namely premature babies, as well as children with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Since September of this year, this group is expanded to include children with heart defects. It is a very good thing that these children during the infection season, which starts in October, and the last two years have shown that there have also been these illnesses earlier, receive 3 to 5 doses of palivizumab, depending on when they are born. The antibody is administered monthly at a place that has a contract with the National Health Fund to provide such prophylaxis.

This is the situation now. Of course, the groups covered by prophylaxis are undoubtedly growing and have been growing for the last time. And what are the recommendations? What groups should be covered by prevention?

The latest position of the American Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics, was released in August. It recommends in all newborns and infants the administration of another new monoclonal antibody: nirsevimab. It has the advantage over the one currently used that it is administered only once, intramuscularly. It protects the child from contracting the disease in the particular season in which the infection occurs, so it is recommended for all term newborns, born who have not yet reached 8 months of age in a given infection season. Of course, these recommendations can be individual, depending on the epidemiology of the virus in a given latitude.

This is a very important recommendation, which was also received with great interest by the Polish Pediatric Society. I hope that the board and presidium will recommend the introduction of this antibody. So far there is no availability of this drug in Poland. If it is available, our recommendations will be just that. This is not a vaccine that requires the activity of the entire immune system, which can often be weaker in these youngest children, especially in premature babies. We give a ready-made antibody so that the child, in the first months of life, will not get a severe disease such as bronchiolitis, which can cause severe respiratory failure.

Thank you for the interview.