Parents across Malaga are being urged to get their babies immunised against bronchiolitis as Andalucia launches its winter vaccination campaign against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The regional health service (SAS) confirmed that around 10,200 children in Malaga province alone will benefit from the rollout, which starts on Monday, September 22.
RSV is the main cause of bronchiolitis, a common but sometimes severe respiratory infection that can send thousands of babies to A&E and lead to hospital admissions each winter.
Who will receive the jab?
The jab is offered to:
- All healthy babies under six months, born on or after April 1, 2025.
- All newborns between September 22 and March 31, 2026, who will be immunised at maternity wards before discharge.
- High-risk children up to two years old, including those born prematurely (before 35 weeks) or with chronic health conditions.
Parents are already being contacted by phone to book appointments.
Not technically a vaccine
The drug, called nirsevimab, is not a traditional vaccine. Instead of teaching the body to make its own antibodies, it provides ready-made monoclonal antibodies, giving babies immediate protection throughout the RSV season.
Impact so far
Andalucia was the first Spanish region to expand RSV protection to all babies in 2023. Since then, the results have been striking:
- Hospital admissions for bronchiolitis have dropped by around 80%.
- In last year’s campaign, more than 95% of eligible babies received the jab.
- Health officials estimate around 2,000 fewer hospitalisations during the 2024–2025 winter season.
This has eased huge pressure on hospitals such as Malaga’s Materno Infantil, where winter wards were once overwhelmed by RSV cases.
Investment
For the 2025–2026 season, the Junta de Andalucía has purchased 73,000 doses of nirsevimab at a cost of €15.8 million, aiming to immunise around 60,000 infants across the region.
Officials say the campaign not only protects vulnerable babies, but also frees up hospital beds and staff for scheduled surgeries and other treatments that in previous years were delayed due to bronchiolitis outbreaks.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
