Paulo Duarte requests flexibility in the RSV vaccine for children up to 35 weeks

Representative Paulo Duarte (PSB), during an ordinary session at the Legislative Assembly of Mato Grosso do Sul, this Tuesday (2), presented an indication requesting the State Government and the Ministry of Health of the MS, study and feasibility of making the criteria more flexible distribution of the vaccine against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) for children born prematurely, with a gestational age of up to 35 weeks. RSV is one of the main etiological agents of lower respiratory tract infections among children under 2 years of age.

The RSV vaccine’s main combat agent is Palivizumab, made available by the Ministry of Health and complies with the inclusion criteria of the drug use protocol in the SUS sphere, stipulated by Joint Ordinance No. 23, of October 2018. Currently, Children under one year of age, those born prematurely with a gestational age of less than or equal to 28 weeks and children up to two years of age with chronic lung disease or congenital heart disease with demonstrated hemodynamic repercussions can receive the medication.

According to data from the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), the Respiratory Syncytial Virus is also responsible for 75% of bronchiolitis and 40% of pneumonia during seasonal periods. Furthermore, RSV is one of the causes of the significant increase in hospitalizations in pediatric ICUs, Emergency Care Units and Basic Health Units; and mortality from infections among infants and children under two years of age. “We emphasize that we have not even entered the winter period yet, which will further increase the number of cases of children affected by RSV. Therefore, relaxing the criteria for the use of Palivizumab, the vaccine that combats the Respiratory Syncytial Virus, becomes essential so that there is no uncontrollable increase in cases in hospitals and health centers”, argues deputy Paulo Duarte.

In Mato Grosso do Sul, RSV seasonality begins in March and lasts until July. The application of the vaccine to children begins in February. However, demand is low. “Flexibility in the application of palivizumab for children born prematurely up to 35 weeks is essential to combat this dangerous virus and also to control its spread. Indirectly, the expansion of vaccination will help public health bodies reduce their costs on hospitalizations”, explains the parliamentarian.

Studies carried out and approved by the National Health Surveillance Agency prove the safety and efficacy of the medicine Palivizumab and were established in premature children with less than 35 weeks of gestational age, in children with symptomatic bronchopulmonary dysplasia and in patients with hemodynamically congenital heart disease. significant. “Therefore, there is no reason for the State’s public health bodies to continue maintaining the range of application of this medicine in children born prematurely with a gestational age of up to 28 weeks”, highlights Paulo Duarte.