Panama begins nirsevimab administration to protect newborns from RSV

Panama's Ministry of Health (Minsa) has launched the administration of nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, to protect newborns and eligible infants from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). The first doses were administered to eligible newborns at the Santo Tomás Hospital Maternity Ward by medical staff from the Dr. José Renán Esquivel Children's Hospital.

To support this initiative, Minsa invested over $3.5 million to acquire 13,790 doses through the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) procurement mechanism. This intervention is part of a mixed national strategy that includes hygiene measures and maternal vaccination.

The use of nirsevimab is intended to complement maternal immunization, particularly for cases where maternal vaccination did not occur or did not provide sufficient protection at birth. The initial phase will progressively prioritize newborns with protection gaps, such as those whose mothers were not vaccinated during pregnancy or those born less than 14 days after maternal vaccination.