On 08 October 2010, The Department of Health announced new recommendations (https://www.cas.dh.gov.uk/Home.aspx) for the use of Palivizumab (Synagis), a passive immunisation to protect infants at risk of serious respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection and as the RSV season starts in October, that clinicians review and implement these recommendations as quickly as possible.

RSV is a common cause of respiratory tract infection occurring in the UK within the period from October to March each year with most infections occurring in a relatively short epidemic of about six weeks. RSV causes bronchiolitis in infants which is usually mild but can be severe in infants who are at increased risk of lower respiratory tract infection.

The new guidance and recommendations on the use of Palivizumab (Synagis) are based on the recommendations and advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and are set out in a new chapter on RSV in Immunisation against infectious disease (the Green Book). The chapter is available at: www.dh.gov.uk/greenbook and the JCVI statement on RSV immunisation is at:www.dh.gov.uk/ab/JCVI/DH_094744

Timing of monoclonal antibody for seasonal RSV prophylaxis in the United Kingdom (PDF, 98 KB)

• Publications - Respiratory Syncytial Virus
  Added/updated: 14 August 2008