Prevention of RSV disease in babies starts at HUS hospitals

HUS will offer nirsevimab to newborns in all its maternity hospitals from September 4, 2025.  Nirsevimab is offered to children under the age of 12 months who belong to high-risk groups for a severe RSV disease when they have an appointment in specialized healthcare at HUS New Children's Hospital, Jorvi Hospital, or Hyvinkää Hospital.    
 
The aim of nirsevimab is to prevent the majority of severe illnesses and infant hospitalizations caused by RSV.  Immunization with nirsevimab is voluntary and free of charge for families.

Nirsevimab is effective in preventing RSV infections  

Nirsevimab can be administered even to newborns. The antibody provides effective protection against RSV for the entire winter epidemic. The product is very safe.

Nirsevimab was used two years ago in several countries, where it prevented 80–90% of hospitalizations caused by RSV.  HUS offered nirsevimab to all newborns and children in at-risk groups for the first time in winter 2024–2025. Approximately 90% of infants and babies under the age of three months received the product then.  In HUS hospitals, it was estimated that nirsevimab decreased the number of hospitalizations caused by RSV by 70%.

“Hospitalization of a baby is always a difficult experience for the family. In babies, RSV causes severe respiratory symptoms that often need to be treated in a hospital. We are extremely happy that we can offer nirsevimab to our patients,” says Tea Nieminen, specialist in pediatric infectious diseases at HUS New Children's Hospital.