RS Virus in Babies: Prevention Strategies
- Infants who contract RSV may need to be treated in the intensive care unit.
- During a typical winter season, between 400 and 700 children with RSV infection are treated at Astrid Lindgren children's Hospital in Stockholm. But this year, a noticeable difference...
- - It is too early to fully evaluate,as the season can normally last until april.
Infants who contract RSV may need to be treated in the intensive care unit. The sickest children are given fluids and oxygen.
During a typical winter season, between 400 and 700 children with RSV infection are treated at Astrid Lindgren children’s Hospital in Stockholm. But this year, a noticeable difference is seen. In january, only four to five infants have been admitted to the hospital, and since the season began in November, barely 30 children, says Malin Ryd Rinder, chief physician and section head of Pediatric Infection at Astrid Lindgren children’s hospital.
– It is too early to fully evaluate,as the season can normally last until april. But it feels fantastically promising for us with so few children now needing to seek care for RSV, says Malin Ryd Rinder.
Since September 2025, following a decision by the council authorized to make recommendations on new drugs, Beyfortus has been offered to all newborns. It provides preventive protection against the respiratory virus and infants receive immunity for six months ahead.
– The figures mentioned are that about 80 percent of parents say yes to the drug. We hope that more will feel confident in saying yes as it provides such good protection. It has now been used for a couple of years around the world and more then seven million doses have been given, so it is not untested, says Ryd Rinder.
The children who have still been treated for RSV have either been born before the preventive
RSV Vaccine Offered to Infants as Cases Rise in Sweden
Swedish health authorities are now offering a vaccine against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) to infants, following a recent increase in cases across the country. The vaccine is available to protect vulnerable babies,notably those too young to have developed natural immunity.
Nicklas Schultz, a father, reports that his nearly one-year-old daughter remained healthy during the recent RSV surge. He was unaware of the vaccine offer but believes they would have accepted it had they known. His daughter benefited from passive immunity through her mother’s RSV vaccination during pregnancy.
New figures from the public Health Agency of Sweden (Folkhälsomyndigheten) show that the number of RSV cases nationally and across all age groups has increased as the days between Christmas and New Year’s. The agency reported 97 cases during that period. as of this week, that number has risen to 148. The agency does not currently specify how many of those cases involve infants.
Acting State Epidemiologist Erik Sturegård stated that the increase is being closely monitored.