Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Jessa Hospital in Hasselt reports fewer newborn RSV admissions after Beyfortus reimbursement since June 2024. Marc Raes highlights its effectiveness; the Abrysvo vaccine also protects infants via maternal antibodies.
Jessa Hospital in Hasselt have reported a major drop in newborn admissions due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) during the latest season. Doctors say the decrease is linked to the new drug Beyfortus, which has been fully reimbursed since June 2024.
The reimbursement allowed almost 90% of newborns to receive the medication last season. Health experts say this wide use helped prevent serious infections that would otherwise have required hospital care. Authorities describe the drop as a clear sign of the drug’s success in protecting the youngest and most vulnerable patients.
“RSV is the most common cause of respiratory difficulties and associated hospitalisations in young children,”
Raes says.
If we better protect children, it’s not only good for them and their parents, but it also reduces the pressure on our hospitals.”
What is causing the drop in newborn RSV cases at Jessa Hospital?
Marc Raes explained that hospitals relied mostly on isolation measures, similar to those used during the coronavirus pandemic. These included keeping newborns away from crowds and applying strict hygiene rules. The arrival of Beyfortus has changed how RSV is managed, giving parents a safe, effective, and fully covered preventive option.
“The decrease in hospital admissions is due to the decision to reimburse Beyfortus.”
Marc Raes
The new drug Beyfortus is helping reduce the number of hospital admissions for RSV among infants. Experts say it is highly effective in preventing serious infections in young children. Hospitals are now seeing the results, with fewer babies needing intensive care. Doctors describe the impact as significant, as it gives parents and healthcare workers a reliable way to protect newborns during the RSV season.
“That new vaccine isn’t yet responsible for this decline,
Says Raes.
“We won’t see the effects until after the next RSV season.”
Parents now also have the option of the Abrysvo vaccine. The vaccine protects babies by passing antibodies from the mother before birth. Health experts emphasise that both options are very effective. Decisions on which treatment to use should be made together with a paediatrician, general practitioner, or gynaecologist.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) mainly affects infants under one year, causing inflammation in the airways and lungs that can lead to serious respiratory illness. The RSV season runs from October to February, when immunisation is offered to protect children during peak virus activity.
Vaccines give protection for five to six months, covering the peak season. Children born after February 13, 2025, are eligible to receive the vaccine. Parents are advised to consult healthcare professionals for information on vaccination and preventive measures.
In the 2019–2020 RSV season, hospitals in Belgium, including those in Brussels and Liège, experienced a significant surge in infant admissions due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). A retrospective study analysing data from 16 French-speaking hospitals in Belgium reported 2,176 hospitalisations for RSV among children under 3 during this period.
