Palivizumab, administered as an intramuscular injection, is used to provide protection against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in at-risk patients. Palivizumab is currently part of a UK-wide immunisation schedule under guidance issued by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which recommends its use in premature infants with severe conditions affecting the lungs and/or heart, and some children with impaired immune systems.

An updated UK rapid policy statement published in June 2021 extended the eligibility criteria for passive immunisation with palivizumab to a further group of at-risk infants and allowed for up to 7 doses to be administered. This decision was made in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic and was informed by the unusual seasonal presentation of the virus.

Based on the latest clinical and epidemiological data, provision of palivizumab passive immunisation to the existing and additional cohorts should now be stopped at the end of January 2022.