The Health Ministry has authorized the expanded vaccination of premature babies against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, which can cause infections in the airways and even death following unusually heightened activity this season.
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The vaccine is administered to high-risk infants born prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy or babies suffering from congenital heart disease or severe chronic lung disease. Professor Shmuel Rishpon, the head of the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group at the Health Ministry, recommended Health Ministry Director-General Nachman Ash expand the vaccination effort following unusually high and continued activity of the virus in March.
According to Health Ministry data, RSV morbidity prior to the coronavirus pandemic in 2018 was 3.5 times lower than current levels. The virus normally recedes outside of a few sporadic cases at this time of year. In March, 133 children were hospitalized with the virus compared to just 12 in 2019.
The chairwoman of the LAHAV Society for Premature Infants Romi Shschori welcomed the move. "Following a joint and strenuous effort, I would like to congratulate all those involved who led to the committee's comprehensive authorization of the necessary extension to look out for the children's health."
Professor David Greenberg, the director of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit of the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, said, "RSV in premature infants who are unvaccinated causes very serious illness and even death. The vaccine brings hospitalizations down by 50%, protects from serious illness and complications of serious illness."
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