Palivizumab is used to help prevent serious illness and hospitalisation in high-risk infants, caused by a virus called respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Palivizumab is also called Synagis.
| From 1 June 2022 palivizumab will be available in Aotearoa New Zealand for infants and young children at high risk of RSV during the COVID-19 pandemic. Your doctor will let you know if your child is eligible to have palivizumab. |
What is palivizumab?
Palivizumab is a medicine used to prevent serious lung problems and respiratory illnesses caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants at high risk of infection.
RSV is a very common virus in the winter and spring months 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 old. Read more about RSV.
The antibodies in palivizumab helps protect your baby from serious infection and hospitalisation. Palivizumab is not used to treat RSV once someone already has the infection.
Is palivizumab a vaccine?
No, palivizumab is not a vaccine as it does not stimulate your baby's body to produce its own antibodies when they come into contact with that virus in the future.
How is palivizumab given?
Palivizumab is given as an injection into the muscle in your baby's thigh by a healthcare professional. The dose given will depend on your child’s weight.
Palivizumab injections are repeated once a month during the expected RSV season. This is because the level of antibodies from each palivizumab injection gradually decreases, and each injection can only help protect your child for about 1 month before another injection is needed. So to ensure the level of protection for your baby remains high, the injections are repeated once a month. To best protect your child, it is necessary to follow the instructions from your doctor about return visits for additional doses.
Possible side effects of palivizumab
Like all medicines, palivizumab can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Often side effects improve as your body gets used to the new medicine.
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| For more information on side effects, see the Medsafe consumer information leaflet Synagis. | |
References
- Synagis Medsafe NZ Consumer Medicine Information
- Decision to fund palivizumab for infants and young children at high risk of respiratory syncytial virus during the COVID-19 pandemic Pharmac, 2022