Fortaleza, Maranhão and Palmas Start SUS Use of Single-Dose RSV Antibody for High-Risk Infants

Overview

• Fortaleza began administering nirsevimab at three sites: the Hospital Universitário do Ceará, Hospital Geral de Fortaleza and Maternidade-Escola Assis Chateaubriand.
• Use in Fortaleza requires a primary-care consultation and prescription, after which the municipality requests supply from the Rede de Imunobiológicos para Pessoas com Situações Especiais for hospital application.
• Maranhão received 4,161 doses, with about 1,700 already routed to units, and is offering the antibody at state maternity and pediatric hospitals across the Grande Ilha region.
• Palmas’ Maternidade Dona Regina started giving the medication immediately to inpatients and is scheduling doses for infants born between August and February who have been discharged.
• Nirsevimab provides passive protection against respiratory syncytial virus in a single dose—often weight-based—for eligible infants with conditions such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, congenital heart disease, severe immunodeficiency, neuromuscular disease, cystic fibrosis or Down syndrome.