Bronchiolitis: how can you protect your baby against RSV this winter?
As winter approaches, the Queen Fabiola Children’s University Hospital (HUDERF) and Erasme Hospital are launching a new RSV immunisation campaign. A single injection of Beyfortus® can protect your baby throughout the period when the virus is circulating most widely.
Why protect babies against RSV before winter?
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of bronchiolitis in babies. The virus circulates mainly during the autumn and winter months and is highly contagious. It spreads through coughs and sneezes, as well as via hands and contaminated objects.
Most children recover without serious complications. In young babies, however, RSV can cause breathing or feeding difficulties and may sometimes require hospital admission.
The aim of the campaign is therefore simple: to protect babies before they are exposed to the virus during the winter months.
Is my baby eligible for the 2026 campaign?
This mainly depends on your baby's date of birth and, in some cases, on whether they have particular risk factors.
Was your baby born between 16 March and 30 September 2026?
Your baby is eligible for the immunisation campaign running from 1 September to 31 October 2026 at the Children's Hospital and Erasme Hospital.
Was your child born before 16 March 2026?
Some children with specific risk factors may also be eligible, depending on factors such as their age, prematurity or certain chronic conditions. Speak to your paediatrician, who can check whether your child is eligible for immunisation.
Will your baby be born during the RSV season?
There is no need to wait for a catch-up campaign. When immunisation is recommended, it can be given from birth, ideally in the maternity unit.
How can a single injection protect my baby?
Beyfortus® (nirsevimab) is not a vaccine. It is a monoclonal antibody. Instead of prompting your baby's immune system to produce its own antibodies, Beyfortus® provides antibodies directly to help neutralise RSV.
This means that protection begins quickly after the injection.
A single intramuscular injection provides protection for at least five months, helping to cover the period when RSV is most widely circulating.
Immunisation significantly reduces the risk of severe RSV infection and RSV-related hospital admission.
Vaccination during pregnancy or immunisation of the baby: what is the difference?
There are two ways to protect a newborn baby against RSV.
The first option is vaccination of the mother during pregnancy with Abrysvo®. The mother's immune system produces antibodies against RSV, which are then passed to the baby through the placenta. This means the baby is already protected from birth.
The second option is to give Beyfortus® directly to the baby.
Both approaches therefore have the same goal, but work in different ways: in one case, the baby receives antibodies from the mother; in the other, the antibodies are given directly to the baby.
In most cases, one of these two approaches is sufficient.
When and where can my baby be immunised?
The catch-up campaign runs from 1 September to 31 October 2026, with dedicated paediatric appointments available at the Children's Hospital and Erasme Hospital.
The appointment is quick and ensures your baby receives the injection before RSV circulation reaches its seasonal peak.
How can I make an appointment?
- Children's Hospital: 02 477 31 20
- Erasme Hospital: 02 555 55 55