Over six months ago, Region Norrbotten in Sweden started providing a new preventive treatment with antibodies against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for newborns. This treatment is designed to offer protection to infants from serious illness caused by RSV for approximately six months, administered as an injection shortly after birth. According to pediatrician Hilda Hassler from Sunderby Hospital, no children who have received the treatment have required hospitalization thus far.

The RSV season kicked off before Christmas but has not yet reached its peak. Since mid-January, there has been a noted increase in the number of RSV cases. However, Hassler notes that this year, there have been no critically ill infants aged 0-3 months requiring respiratory assistance. The absence of severe cases among such young infants is seen as a promising sign and potentially indicative of the treatment's effectiveness.

A national evaluation of hospitalization cases is scheduled for spring, once the RSV season concludes. This assessment aims to better understand the impact of the new treatment and assess public health outcomes in preventing severe RSV infections among the most vulnerable population, newborns. The results of this evaluation could influence future public health policies and treatments for RSV in Sweden and beyond.