Sweden expands antibody treatments for newborns to combat RS-virus

Newborns in Sweden, including those in the Halland region, are being offered antibody treatments to protect against the RS-virus (RSV). Following a successful rollout last year, where approximately 90 percent of newborns in Halland received the treatment, hospitalizations due to RSV infections significantly decreased. According to the Public Health Agency of Sweden, the number of children requiring hospital care for the infection dropped by approximately 82 percent compared to the previous season.

Starting September 10, the protective antibody treatment will be offered to all newborns in Sweden, as well as to older children at high risk. In Halland, medical professionals aim to administer the treatment within hours of birth to ensure full protection is established by the time infants leave the hospital. The treatment has shown high efficacy with no reported serious side effects among the approximately 2,200 children treated in the region so far.