Bronchiolitis: less than half of infants received the vaccine against the disease despite the proven effectiveness of the treatment

Despite a vaccination campaign that began in September 2025, cases of bronchiolitis continue to rise. Thomas, at just seven months old, has already received treatment for the respiratory illness.

"He was five months old, it took the form of an injection which he tolerated very well, there were no side effects at all," explains Emmanuel, the child's father.

The effectiveness of this treatment lasts five months, so the child will be well protected during the peak of the epidemic, which occurs between the end of November and the beginning of January. "We are seeing fabulous results with the monoclonal antibody," Dr. Christophe Batard, pediatrician and member of the French Association of Ambulatory Pediatrics, told BFMTV.

He continues: "We see that we have 80% fewer resuscitations, hospitalizations and visits to the emergency room. But we realize that not all infants can yet benefit from this since they have not received the information."

Indeed, since September 1st, infants can be vaccinated at birth in maternity wards. But for those born before, between February and August, the French Society of Pediatrics (SFP) is issuing a warning, as less than half of the babies have received treatment.

"It would be a real shame if French children did not benefit from it. The product is available, it is in pharmacies so all you have to do is get a prescription. Now is really the time to do it before the virus circulates too much," explains Christèle Gras-Le Guen, spokesperson for the SFP.

This organization encourages parents to make this decision and, unlike vaccines, advocates for a "product that is immediately effective." Another possibility is to prescribe the treatment to pregnant women to protect their child at birth.