Child health: RSV protection for babies at health insurance expense

Children’s health
RSV protection for babies at health insurance expense

A recommended protection for babies against respiratory diseases caused by the RSV pathogen will soon be available at the expense of health insurance companies. This was announced by the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds (GKV) after regulations were made regarding the billing of the service for doctors. However, according to medical experts, there is still a lack of vaccine.

Since Saturday, a regulation of the Federal Ministry of Health has established a right to a one-time Immunization with the antibody drug Nirsevimab for newborns and infants under the age of one – regardless of risk factors. It takes up a corresponding recommendation from the Standing Committee on Vaccination (Stiko) from the end of June.

Not enough time for comprehensive protection

The product will not be available on a larger scale until October 11, said Jakob Maske, spokesman for the professional association of pediatricians, when asked by the German Press Agency. “If we only vaccinate from mid-October, there will not be enough time to reach all children in time,” he warned. “In addition, the fee of 8.95 euros for administering a vaccination is very low,” added the doctor. “That is so little that special vaccination hours will not be worthwhile.”

So far, there have already been some imports of Nirsevimab from European countries, for example for particularly vulnerable infants, “but these apparently cost considerably more money and therefore cannot be used on a large scale,” said Maske.

Nirsevimab can be used in Germany even if the packaging is labelled exclusively in French or Spanish. The products are pharmaceutically identical, the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI), the Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines, recently explained. In order to meet demand, the manufacturer Sanofi Winthrop Industrie is allowed to bring packs of the drug from France and Spain onto the German market in September and October.

Many infants affected by RSV infections

An infection with the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of lower respiratory tract diseases in babies. According to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), around 25,000 infants are hospitalized every year. Around 200,000 infants with RSV are treated as outpatients. The virus is transmitted via droplets.

The spokesman for the GKV umbrella organization, Florian Lanz, told the dpa that the self-administration of the health care system had succeeded in finding a solution to protect the little ones in a very short time and in good time before the cold season. “In this way, we are helping to protect newborns and infants from serious RSV disease and to avoid an increased volume of care in doctor’s offices and hospital wards.”

Recommended periods for immunization

Babies born between April and September should receive Nirsevimab before the start of their first RSV season, the ministry explained – ideally from September to November. Babies born from October to March should receive it as soon as possible after birth – ideally in the birthing facility or at the latest within the first week of life.

Injection to prevent severe cases

As the ministry explains in the draft, the comprehensive right to RSV protection is intended to prevent serious illnesses, intensive care treatments and even deaths among newborns and infants. At the same time, bottlenecks and overloads in pediatric practices and clinics, which have recently occurred during RSV waves, are to be avoided.

Coughing, sneezing and fever

In children, RSV infection usually first manifests itself in the form of a runny nose and a lack of appetite. The throat can be inflamed. “Coughing and sneezing follow, and fever often occurs,” writes the Federal Center for Health Education on its website. Bronchitis and pneumonia are possible as a result. In severe cases, artificial ventilation may be necessary.

dpa