Despite the Ministry of Health's decision to allow the extension of the preterm vaccine season against RSV known as the "preterm virus" for April, parents of preterm infants complain that they do not receive the vaccine and are left unprotected.
This year, there was an increase in cases in Israel with the respiratory virus RSV, which causes respiratory infections and can cause death.
Thus, last March, 133 hospitalizations due to the virus were reported compared to March 12, 2019.
The season of activity of the virus is from November to March, so during these months a tolerable vaccine (containing antibodies) is given to preterm infants.
This year, activity is considered exceptional compared to previous years.
A comparison conducted by the Ministry of Health found that before the outbreak of the corona, in November-March 2018-2019, RSV had a 3.5 times lower morbidity level than RSV activity these days and about 2% in patients compared to the current March and previous years.
As reported in "Israel Today", the virus infects preterm infants and vaccine-suppressed babies, and the Advisory Committee for Vaccines in the Ministry of Health recommended, in light of the data, that the vaccination be extended to April.
However, parents of preterm infants report that the decision is not implemented.
Afraid to leave the house
"Immediately after we left the hospital we tried to make an appointment for the vaccine and every time we arrived the nurse said she thought the vaccination season should be extended because the season is getting longer and there are many hospitalized because of the virus," says Ortal Koren, a mother of Peg who lives in Sde Yoav.
"Every time we asked if there was a new one and we were told no. I am very worried, I am afraid to leave the house because anything small can put him at risk and only goes out for what is necessary. We received the approval of the vaccination committee, Mine, they will be at risk because they will not have the necessary protection. "
Parents of preterm infants report fear of inviting guests home or the departure of older siblings to educational settings for fear of infection.
"The day-to-day conduct around the birth of a premature baby does not really end in the first week, two weeks or three. One of the main dilemmas was how to deal with her mother, our eldest daughter, especially since it is the corona period. And to reach its frameworks and on the other hand to keep the twins, "said Haim Kadosh, a father of premature twins from Kiryat Bialik.
Lioria, if expired, shares that: "All the vaccines my child received were within 30 days so he is not protected from the end of March, it is very stressful, I can not leave the house and there is no response from the HMO."
Rumi Shchori, CEO of Lahav: "At the beginning of the outbreak, it took three months from the moment the problem was realized until the Ministry of Health issued a directive to start vaccinating all preterm infants in August. The disease is being carried to this day, not to mention a premature baby who died due to not being vaccinated and infected. "
"The situation is complex and I do not ignore the complexity of the difficulty and the burden it creates on the system, but it is urgently needed to think outside the box and find solutions to protect the preterm infants.
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