On October 12, 2023, the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced that 27 medical institutions in Beijing will offer Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) monoclonal antibody injections. These injections are intended for newborns and infants who are either entering or will soon be born into their first RSV infection season, which spans from October of the current year to March of the following year.
According to the Beijing CDC, this initiative is following a “informed consent, voluntary, self-funded” principle, and it is being piloted at the 27 designated medical facilities. These RSV monoclonal antibody injections will be managed as prescription medications, prescribed by pediatric practitioners at the participating institutions, and administered in specially designated vaccination clinics. Individuals are required to make an appointment ahead of time.
For specific procedures, families are encouraged to consult the participating medical institutions, and the costs will be determined based on the institutions’ published information. A detailed list of the first batch of participating facilities is available at the end of this article.
RSV is one of the most common pathogens causing respiratory infections in infants and young children. Early RSV infections often present symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion, and runny nose, which can quickly progress to lower respiratory infections like bronchiolitis or pneumonia, marked by symptoms like rapid breathing, wheezing, grunting, oxygen deficiency, and labored breathing. The virus has a short incubation period and can lead to repeated infections, posing significant health risks to infants.
Research indicates that almost all infants experience an RSV infection, with many of those hospitalized due to RSV being previously healthy babies. Although most affected children recover, early RSV infections can be linked to later recurring wheezing and asthma.
RSV primarily spreads through contact with contaminated respiratory secretions or surfaces, making airborne and contact transmission the most common routes of infection.
The RSV monoclonal antibody injection is a biological product that received registration approval from the National Medical Products Administration on December 26, 2023. It is designed to prevent or reduce lower respiratory tract infections caused by RSV in newborns and infants, qualifying it as a prescription medication.
Eligibility for the RSV monoclonal antibody injection includes newborns and infants entering their first RSV infection season. The assessment for suitability is based on the child’s health status and any contraindications as determined by pediatricians.
One injection of the RSV monoclonal antibody provides at least five months of protection. It can be administered concurrently with childhood vaccines using separate injection syringes in different injection sites.
As with any biological product, the RSV monoclonal antibody injection may cause adverse reactions. The most common side effect is a rash, which typically occurs within 14 days of administration, with most cases being mild to moderate. In rare instances, fever and non-severe injection site reactions may develop within seven days post-injection. Parents are advised to report any concerns to the administering medical facility for appropriate guidance.
Infants with a history of severe allergic reactions to the active components or any excipients of the RSV monoclonal antibody injection are contraindicated from receiving the injection. For specific queries, families should consult the pilot medical institutions.
After receiving the injection, it is important to stay at the vaccination site for 30 minutes for monitoring. Additionally, bathing should be avoided for six hours post-injection, and parents should refrain from scratching or rubbing the injection site. Staying hydrated and maintaining a light diet while avoiding any new or potentially allergenic foods is recommended after returning home.
Here’s a list of the pilot medical institutions offering the RSV monoclonal antibody injection in Beijing:
– Beijing United Family Hospital (Dongcheng District)
– Xicheng District Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital
– Beijing New Century Children’s Hospital
– Capital Medical University Affiliated Beijing Children’s Hospital
– Capital Medical University Affiliated Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital
– Chaoyang District Sunhe Community Health Service Center
– Haidian District Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital
– Peking University Third Hospital
– Beijing Yide Hospital
– Fengtai District Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital
– Beijing Jiahe Mother and Child Hospital
– Shijingshan Hospital of Beijing
– Jingtai Group General Hospital
– Fangshan District Changyang Town Community Health Service Center
– Fangshan District Liulihe Town Community Health Service Center
– Peking University International Hospital
– Beijing Jingdu Children’s Hospital
– Daxing District People’s Hospital
– Shunyi Airport Hospital
– United Family Shunyi Clinic
– Capital Medical University Affiliated Beijing Luhe Hospital
– Huairou District Huairou Town Community Health Service Center
– Miyun District Hospital
– Pinggu District Pinggu Town Community Health Service Center
– Yanqing District Hospital
– Yanqing District Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital
– Jingkai District Ronghua Community Health Service Center.
