Vaccination campaign reduces incidence of bronchiolitis in Lombardy

The immunisation programme initiated by Regione Lombardia, Italy, involving the administration of a specific monoclonal antibody to infants under one year of age, has been demonstrated to result in a notable reduction in the incidence of severe cases of bronchiolitis and the subsequent overloading of healthcare facilities, as outlined by the Welfare Councillor, Guido Bertolaso. A thorough examination of data collected by the ‘Sydromic Surveillance System’ in Lombardy reveals a substantial decrease in initial aid admissions and hospitalisations for bronchiolitis in infants under one year of age, in comparison to preceding years. Specifically, the number of cases seen from 19 September 2024 to 19 January 2025 was approximately 1,500, in contrast to the 5,800 cases recorded during the winter seasons of 2022/23 and 2023/24, respectively. Concerning the number of emergency room admissions, this has been reduced from approximately 2,350 in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 winters to less than 600 in the current winter season. The vaccination campaign involved 52,000 children, with the monoclonal antibody being offered to all newborns born from 1 November 2024 at birth points and, for those born between 1 January and 31 October 2024, through an active call or voluntary request.