Saudi experts’ recommendation for RSV prophylaxis in the era of COVID-19: Consensus from the Saudi Pediatric Pulmonology Association

Authors

• Adel S. Alharbi, From the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi A, Alodayani), Prince Sultan Military Medical City; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alzahrani), Security Forces Hospital; from the Pediatrics Department (Alnemri), College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alhindi), King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi S), Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah; and from the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi S), Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Mohamed Alzahrani, From the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi A, Alodayani), Prince Sultan Military Medical City; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alzahrani), Security Forces Hospital; from the Pediatrics Department (Alnemri), College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alhindi), King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi S), Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah; and from the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi S), Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Abdulrahman N. Alodayani, From the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi A, Alodayani), Prince Sultan Military Medical City; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alzahrani), Security Forces Hospital; from the Pediatrics Department (Alnemri), College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alhindi), King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi S), Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah; and from the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi S), Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Mohamed Y. Alhindi, From the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi A, Alodayani), Prince Sultan Military Medical City; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alzahrani), Security Forces Hospital; from the Pediatrics Department (Alnemri), College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alhindi), King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi S), Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah; and from the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi S), Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Saleh Alharbi, From the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi A, Alodayani), Prince Sultan Military Medical City; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alzahrani), Security Forces Hospital; from the Pediatrics Department (Alnemri), College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alhindi), King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi S), Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah; and from the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi S), Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
• Abdulrahman Alnemri, From the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi A, Alodayani), Prince Sultan Military Medical City; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alzahrani), Security Forces Hospital; from the Pediatrics Department (Alnemri), College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alhindi), King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard; from the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi S), Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah; and from the Department of Pediatrics (Alharbi S), Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and viral pneumonia in pediatrics worldwide. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the prevalence of RSV is 23.5% in pediatric patients with acute lower respiratory tract illness. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) poses critical public health and socioeconomic challenges in KSA. The Saudi Pediatric Pulmonology Association (SPPA), a subsidiary of the Saudi Thoracic Society (STS), developed a task force to determine the potential challenges and barriers to the RSV immunoprophylaxis program during the era of COVID-19 and to compose a practical, nationwide, and multidisciplinary approach to address these challenges. Some of the recommendations to manage these challenges include increasing the number of RSV immunoprophylaxis clinics, drive-thru visits, home-care services, and swift referrals to the RSV immunoprophylaxis program specialists. Additional training is required for healthcare personnel to add RSV immunoprophylaxis to the regular immunization schedule.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

355

Last Page

362

Recommended Citation

Alharbi, Adel S.; Alzahrani, Mohamed; Alodayani, Abdulrahman N.; Alhindi, Mohamed Y.; Alharbi, Saleh; and Alnemri, Abdulrahman (2021) "Saudi experts’ recommendation for RSV prophylaxis in the era of COVID-19: Consensus from the Saudi Pediatric Pulmonology Association," Saudi Medical Journal: Vol. 42: Iss. 4, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2021.42.4.20200769