The 19,000 parents who managed to place an order for Beyfortus, the preventive treatment against bronchiolitis, when it was launched in September, should have the doses in December.
- Barely 15 days after its launch in September, Beyfortus was in shortage in pharmacies.
- The French authorities managed to obtain additional doses from the Sanofi laboratory.
- The 19,000 parents who ordered Beyfortus in September should soon receive the dose. However, no new orders will be possible.
THE Beyfortusis a preventive treatment against bronchiolitis, authorized on the French market since September 15. But the strong enthusiasm encountered by this drug protecting babies from disease provoked by respiratory syncytial virus (VRS)had made it unavailable in pharmacies barely two weeks after its launch. But good news for the parents of the infant: the 19,000 orders placed in mid-September will be honored in the coming weeks.
Beyfortus shortage : mid-September orders guaranteed
In an interview given to ReleaseMinister of Health Aurélien Rousseau confirmed that France had obtained additional doses. The new state order contains 30,000 doses of 50 mg reserved for maternity wards for newborns as well as 20,000 doses of 100 mg intended for babies weighing more than five kilos, deliverable in pharmacy. Thus, the 19,000 parents who placed an order in September will receive the product.
“We will clear orders already placed by pharmacies before the system is closed”indicates the Sanofi laboratory, questioned about delivery by The echoes. Its representatives, however, specify that“no additional orders will be possible”.
Delivery should take place at the beginning of December, but the laboratory must first contact pharmacies. “We will communicate directly with them, by e-mail and by telephone, to find out if they confirm the orders placed and validated by us in September, in which case, we will deliver them by the beginning of December“, clarified Sanofi.
Bronchiolitis: 8 out of 10 parents interested by treatment preventive
THE Beyfortus is not a vaccine, but a preventive treatment against bronchiolitis, administered in the form of a single injection. It contains the nirsevimaba monoclonal antibody that helps prevent lower respiratory tract infections in All-small ones. Intramuscular injection, it is recommended for children under two years old.
In detail, the French authorities had ordered 200,000 doses for this winter. The majority of products came in doses of 50 mg and were reserved for maternity hospitals and their newborns weighing less than five kilos. However, the Beyfortus provoked keen interest also in homes. The 55,000 doses of 100 mg, dedicated to pharmacies, were quickly exhausted, causing a shortage in the city. Sanofi estimates that between 70% and 80% of parents of very young children have requested the product.