Slovenia’s Ljubljana hospital offers free RSV protection to all infants
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Ljubljana Hospital, part of the University Clinical Centre Ljubljana in Slovenia, began offering free protection to newborns and infants against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This protection extends to babies who do not yet have a designated pediatrician, ensuring they receive timely care.
The hospital provides this protection using long-acting monoclonal antibodies to infants under six months old whose mothers were not vaccinated against RSV during pregnancy, as recommended by the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ).
Parents must schedule an appointment in advance, but a referral from a doctor is not required. Hospital staff specifically aim to help parents of infants without a pediatrician, as these children might otherwise miss crucial protection. They want to prevent administrative issues from leaving any child vulnerable to RSV, which commonly causes respiratory infections and can lead to more severe conditions like bronchiolitis or pneumonia in babies. Dr.
Lilijana Kornhauser Cerar, a neonatology specialist, explained that early-life infants are especially at risk of severe illness. The NIJZ also recommends preventative measures for parents, including hand hygiene, limiting contact with sick people, and ventilating rooms. They advise that siblings avoid attending daycare for the first six months after a baby is born. Parents can schedule appointments by phone or email, and the hospital provides educational materials about RSV and prevention.
