Prevention of severe RSV disease in babies

At-risk groups who can book an appointment by phone:

• Born before gestational age of 29+0 weeks
• Born at gestational age between 29+0 and 36+6 weeks and the family has another child under the age of 6
• Down syndrome

At-risk groups who should book an appointment at the outpatient clinic responsible for their care:

• Heart defect or heart disease for which surgery is planned or regular medication is needed. 
• Severe immunodeficiency according to the attending physician
• Lung disease in a premature infant, i.e. bronchopulmonary dysplasia, for which some form of respiratory support treatment has been needed in the past 6 months or similar severe chronic pulmonary disease

Nirsevimab is offered between November 4 and 29, 2024, to children under 12 months old who are at risk of severe RSV infection. The appointments take place at Pediatric Outpatient Clinics in New Children's Hospital, Jorvi Hospital, and Hyvinkää Hospital. Families can choose the hospital when booking the appointment. 

All children born after August 1, 2024, will receive nirsevimab at child health clinics (neuvola). At-risk babies can get the antibody also at their local child health clinic. Immunization with nirsevimab is voluntary and free of charge for families. 

Appointment booking for at-risk babies will open on October 28, 2024, at 9 a.m. 

To book an appointment, call the number 09 471 74770 between 9 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
 

RSV or RS virus (respiratory syncytial virus) is a common cause of respiratory tract infection in people of all ages. The number of cases tends to increase in late fall and in the winter. The infection spreads easily through, for example, hand contact and sneezing. Almost all children get a respiratory tract infection caused by RSV during early childhood. Most only experience mild cold-like symptoms.  

RSV is a common cause of hospitalization in babies. In children under twelve months of age (and especially children under three months of age), the virus can cause a lower respiratory tract infection with symptoms such as cough, increased mucus/phlegm production, loss of appetite, fatigue, rapid and superficial breathing, and pauses in breathing. Symptoms can get worse quickly and require urgent hospitalization or even intensive care. 

Nirsevimab is effective in preventing severe RSV infections. The medicine starts to work almost immediately, and its effect lasts for one RSV season. The antibody is at its most useful when given at the start of the RSV season. Nirsevimab is administered as a single intramuscular injection. It is not a vaccine. Nirsevimab can be given at the same time as vaccines from the vaccination program. If the mother was vaccinated against RSV during pregnancy at least 2 weeks before giving birth, the baby will not need nirsevimab.  

Nirsevimab has been shown to be very safe in clinical studies. The medicine does not contain RSV and cannot cause an RSV infection. Adverse effects are relatively rare. Potential adverse effects include rash, fever, and redness, swelling, or pain at the injection site.