Lombardy has moved up its free protection programme for respiratory syncytial virus to September 1, extending it for a third year and aiming to better shield infants before the virus peaks during colder months.
Lombardy has brought forward its free protection campaign against respiratory syncytial virus to 1 September, moving it up by a month and extending the programme for a third straight year. According to the region, the measure covers babies born from 1 April 2026 and uses a monoclonal antibody rather than a traditional vaccine.
The timing matters because RSV is usually mild in older children and adults, but it can hit newborns and infants much harder, often affecting the lower respiratory tract and causing bronchiolitis. Health officials said the earlier start is designed to give babies protection before the virus circulates more widely in the colder months.
The campaign is voluntary and depends on parental consent. For babies born from 1 September, the antibody can be given in hospital or in a clinic soon after delivery. For those born between 1 April and 31 August, families may be contacted by their family paediatrician and offered the protection through the doctor or public health services.
Regional health councillor Guido Bertolaso said the approach is passive immunisation, meaning the antibody is given directly to the infant rather than prompting the body to make its own defences. Lombardy also said uptake was above 90% in the previous season, with a sharp fall in emergency visits and hospital admissions linked to RSV, including intensive care cases. Before the programme was introduced, the region said it was seeing more than 3,500 hospital stays a year and costs close to €15 million.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
