Palivizumab is a medicine used to prevent serious lung problems and respiratory illnesses caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for infants at high risk of infection.
RSV is a very common virus in the winter and spring months (usually between May and October) in Aotearoa New Zealand. In young infants it causes a chest infection called bronchiolitis. This is often a mild infection, but it can become serious in high risk infants under 2 years of age. Read more about RSV.
The antibodies in palivizumab help protect your baby from serious infection and hospitalisation. Palivizumab isn't used to treat RSV once someone already has the infection.
Palivizumab is not a vaccine as it doesn't stimulate your baby's body to produce its own antibodies when they come into contact with that virus in the future. Rather, the antibodies in palivizumab protects your baby from serious infection.
From January 2025 palivizumab will be funded in Aotearoa New Zealand
From January 2025, palivizumab will be funded during the RSV season (May to October) for babies 2 years of age or younger who are at high risk of severe infection, and who meet specific criteria. You may need to go to a hospital or clinic to get palivizumab, rather than your usual GP.
