Portugal Extends Free RSV Antibody Jab to Babies This Winter

New parents in Portugal can breathe a little easier this coming winter. Public, private and social-sector maternity wards will again be offering a free shot that has already slashed emergency admissions for babies in Portugal and across Europe. The preventive injection, a monoclonal antibody called nirsevimab, targets the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)—the leading cause of infant hospitalisation during the colder months.

Why expat parents should pay attention

Moving to a new country often means learning an entirely new health-care playbook. For families who have recently settled in Lisbon, Porto or the Algarve, Portugal’s decision to roll out another nationwide RSV campaign translates into zero out-of-pocket costs, minimal bureaucracy and peace of mind during the baby’s most vulnerable weeks. Unlike the regular childhood jabs included in the Programa Nacional de Vacinação, this antibody is administered just once per season, providing passive immunity that lasts roughly five months—the span of the Portuguese RSV peak. For foreign parents comparing systems, it is worth noting that while France and Spain also offer the drug universally, the United Kingdom still restricts access mainly to pre-term infants.

Who qualifies this season

Eligibility hinges on your child’s date of birth and, in some cases, specific medical conditions. Babies arriving between 16 September 2025 and 31 March 2026 will be offered nirsevimab directly at the maternity ward, usually within the first 24–48 hours. Newborns delivered earlier—between 1 June and 15 September—will be summoned to their local centro de saúde or paediatric clinic for the injection. Pre-term infants, as well as little ones managing chronic lung disease or congenital heart issues, remain covered even if they are entering their second RSV season and have not yet turned 24 months by 30 September 2025. Health authorities project that about 76,000 children—14,000 more than last year—fall under these expanded criteria.

How and where the jab is given

Logistics follow a simple calendar. Hospital maternity teams stock the doses and administer them before discharge; community health-care nurses handle follow-up appointments for June and summer babies. Should your child require hospital care for unrelated reasons, paediatricians can authorise the shot on the ward. Parents need only bring the infant’s Cartão de Utente (or European Health Insurance Card while waiting on local registration) plus a simple consent form. The procedure itself is a single intramuscular injection, typically in the thigh, and side-effects have so far been limited to mild redness in fewer than 2 % of cases, according to the Direção-Geral da Saúde (DGS).

Lessons from last winter

Portugal’s inaugural RSV season using nirsevimab achieved an 86 % coverage rate and produced results that surprised even veteran paediatricians. Hospitalisations for babies up to three months old dropped by roughly 85 %, while admissions among three- to six-month-olds fell by about 40 %. The Ministry of Health spent €13.6 M on the first rollout—money officials say was more than offset by savings in intensive-care beds and overtime pay in emergency departments. With demand rising, the government has secured an ample supply of the antibody, warding off the shortages that hit Germany last year.

Portugal keeps pace with Europe

Nirsevimab is fast becoming a standard across the continent, but adoption still varies. France and Spain were early movers; Italy, Ireland and Luxembourg followed suit in 2024. The Netherlands and the United Kingdom have limited programmes tied to risk factors or gestational age. Portugal’s commitment to a universal seasonal campaign places it among the most ambitious, yet its price negotiations remain confidential. A Spanish cost-effectiveness study pegged the net cost per hospitalisation avoided at just under €9,000 when the dose price sits near €220—figures Portuguese officials quietly use to defend the programme during annual budget talks.

If your baby is born abroad or arrives mid-season

Families who relocate after giving birth elsewhere in Europe—or even farther afield—can still claim the free antibody. Register your child at the local Centro de Saúde as soon as possible; a paediatric nurse will check the birth date against the campaign window and note any high-risk conditions. If a qualifying infant has already received nirsevimab abroad, Portuguese guidelines do not require a repeat dose that same season, but parents should bring proof of immunisation for the medical record. For newcomers planning deliveries in Portuguese hospitals, remember that the injection is offered automatically, so you simply need to sign the consent form when asked. Language should not be a barrier: most maternity units in major cities provide English-speaking staff or can call an interpreter on demand.

In short, whether you have just unpacked your boxes in Cascais or are awaiting a residence visa from abroad, Portugal’s RSV campaign adds one more layer of reassurance to the country’s already robust paediatric care.