(ANSA) – TRIESTE, 23 AUG – The Regional Council, with today’s resolution proposed by the FVG Health Councillor, Riccardo Riccardi, has approved the free administration of the anti-Dengue vaccination to residents in the region with a previous diagnosed infection and has allocated, for this purpose, 5,000 euros to be divided on the basis of the resident population in the three Health Authorities (2,200 euros to Asufc, 1,500 to Asugi and 1,300 to Asfo).
The Executive also approved the immunization campaign and free administration of prophylaxis for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis to newborns and children in the first six months of life in Friuli Venezia Giulia with the related distribution of 900,000 euros for the start of prevention. The resources, based on the resident population, are distributed as follows: 370,000 euros to Asufc, 185,000 to Asugi, 260,000 to Asfo, 85,000 to Irccs Burlo.
Among the reasons for the first measure, as Riccardi explained, are the scientific evidence indicating the increased health risk in the event of repeated infections, the evolution of the global epidemiological situation on Dengue cases, the cases diagnosed in the region (in 2023, 5 cases, rising to 11 in the first 6 months of 2024 in people residing in Friuli Venezia Giulia, all infectious cases were imported from endemic areas) and the serious variant, the so-called “hemorrhagic dengue”, which is potentially lethal for humans and generally complicates the picture of reinfections.
As for the prevention campaign for RSV bronchiolitis, specifically, the document regarding the indications for immunoprophylaxis with the monoclonal antibody Nirsevimab against severe respiratory syncytial virus infections was approved.
“The monoclonal antibody Nirsevimab has been shown to be safe and to be able to reduce RSV respiratory infections requiring medical attention by 80% and those leading to hospitalization by 77%. Some scientific societies – Riccardi indicated – recognize the availability of the monoclonal antibody Nirsevimab as a novelty of considerable importance and of potential great impact on public health for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus diseases in newborns”. With today’s resolution, the operational protocol is therefore approved, which provides that all newborns before discharge from the maternity ward, during the epidemic season (from 30 September 2024 to 31 March 2025), are immunized at the birth points, all infants up to 6 months of age at the beginning of the epidemic season are subject to prophylaxis by vaccination services and children aged 6-24 months with risk factors (such as for example a haemodynamically significant congenital heart disease, primary or secondary immunosuppression, metabolic diseases, neuromuscular diseases, severe bronchodysplasia, severe respiratory disease, cystic fibrosis) are equally subject to prophylaxis by vaccination services or the reference hospital. (ANSA).
2024-08-24 00:34:36