The Health Unit is offering a new preventative medication for to protect newborns an infants.
The treatment, known as Beyfortus, is an injection of antibodies to protect those aged 24 months and younger against Respiratory Syncytial Virus.
Officials say RSV is a highly contagious respiratory virus that’s a leading cause of hospitalizations among infants. In rare cases it can be life threatening, leading to complications like bronchiolitis or pneumonia.
“I highly recommend this preventative treatment for infants,” said Dr. Carol Zimbalatti, Medical Officer of Health for the Health Unit. “It is safe and very effective at preventing RSV in infants in their most vulnerable first year. This is good for infants, their families and for the health care system. No one wants infants to struggle to breathe especially from an avoidable cause.”
The preventative treatment is currently being administered to newborns at the hospital shortly after birth. For infants born outside of hospital, treatment may be available through a primary care provider.
More information on RSV and the treatment can be found here.
