Babies in the Netherlands are being immunised against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from Monday onwards, preventing potentially serious complications in newborns and the postponement of operations on other children.

RSV is the most common cause of death among babies worldwide after malaria. In the Netherlands, deaths from the virus are rare but between 1,500 and 3,000 infants become seriously ill every year and 150 have to be admitted to intensive care units.

The increase in seriously ill babies in intensive care means hospitals in Germany and Belgium are often called on to help so other operations can go ahead. Experts are hoping the jabs will alleviate the pressure on the Dutch units.

The jab, which has been added to the national immunisation programme, contains the virus antibody Nirsevimab, which means the child does not produce their own antibodies and there is very little chance of side effects. Protection starts almost immediately and lasts for six months.

The campaign is staggered to cover the virus peak during winter months, with babies born from 1 April through 30 September receiving the jab in September or October.

Babies born from 1 October through 31 March will get the shot within two weeks after being born.

In other countries, where the jab has been used since 2023, the number of hospital admissions for sick babies has been reduced by 80%.

According to recent figures from Radboud University’s medical centre , a quarter of parents have doubts about the vaccination offered by the immunisation programme.

However, the majority of reluctant parents have their babies vaccinated against serious childhood diseases such as polio, diphtheria and whooping cough, a study by the teaching hospital has shown.

Vaccination coverage for children has been falling and in 2022, vaccination coverage for children up to two failed to reach the critical level of 90%, making outbreaks of contagious childhood diseases more likely.