Background
Acute bronchialitis in infants is a seasonal respiratory disease due in particular to the respiratory syncytial virus (VRS). Mostly benign, it can cause serious complications in the very young infant. The epidemic usually starts in mid-October, peaks in December and ends at the end of winter; it affects about 30% of newborns and infants each winter.
Why it's important
Knowing the available preventive treatments, places of administration and reimbursement rates allows parents to protect their baby before the epidemic season. As the rules of care have recently evolved, it is important to check the rest with the mutual before taking over in the city.
What Changes
A new monoclonal antibody, Enflonsia, has been available since August 2026. Since 31 August 2026, the management of antibodies in the city has increased from 30% to 65%. The Ministry of Health launched the prevention campaign 2026-2027, open until February 28, 2027.
Useful details
- Prevention campaign: 14 September 2026 to 28 February 2027. Children born during this period may be offered a dose of antibodies directly in maternity a few days after birth, or in the city.
- 3 medicines are available for newborns and infants under the age of 1 during their first season of exposure to RSV (the mother must not have received Abrysvo vaccine): Beyfortus; Enflonsia; Synagis (reserved for premature and high-risk infants with severe heart or pulmonary disease; administered only in health facilities).
- Protection lasts 5 months, average duration of virus circulation. Beyfortus and Synagis can be administered up to the child's 24 months if they remain vulnerable in the second season; Enflonsia can only be administered for the first season.
- Sickness insurance coverage: 100 % in hospital; 65 % in the city since 31 Aug. 2026 ( 30 % previously), the remainder being variable according to the mutuals.
- Children born between 21 February 2026 and 13 September 2026 are eligible for catch-up immunization in the city. The antibody can be prescribed by a doctor or midwife and administered by doctors, midwives, nurses, as well as PMI.
- Maternal vaccination: Abrysvo is given to 8th months of pregnancy (between 32nd and 36th week of amenorrhea) and protects the infant from birth if it occurs more than 2 weeks after injection and up to 6 months after birth. She is cared for at 100 % by maternity insurance from the 6th month of pregnancy.
Terms to know
- Anticorps monoclonal
- Medicinal product injected to the baby to protect him immediately from the virus; it is not a vaccine.
- VRS
- Respiratory syncytial virus, the main cause of bronchiolite in infants.
- Assurance maladie
- An organization that reimburses part of preventive care and treatment.
- Mutuelle
- Health supplement which covers part of the expenses not reimbursed by the Health Insurance.
- PMI
- Maternal and child protection, public monitoring service for young children and future mothers.
- Semaine d'aménorrhée
- Pregnancy duration counted from the first day of the last period.
