Beyfortus is part of a series of innovative treatments which aim to prevent or limit infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the main cause of bronchiolitis. This particularly affects infants, in whom it causes an annual epidemic.
Epidemic already started
The epidemic has already started this year in mainland France, currently affecting the Paris region and Hauts-de-France according to a weekly report published Wednesday by the public health agency, even if it remains moderate in scale compared to in previous years.
Beyfortus (from the AstraZeneca and Sanofi laboratories) had already been offered last year to many infants. At the time, the costs were covered by the State which had directly purchased doses from the laboratories. But this year, the treatment is moving to more traditional reimbursement, via Health Insurance. And this only reimburses it up to 30%, the rest being the responsibility of the mutual insurance companies.
However, “many families, unable to pay the co-payment which remains their responsibility, around 300 euros, (report) that several mutual insurance companies do not reimburse or partially reimburse”, underline the pediatricians.
For comparison, many childhood vaccines are reimbursed at 65% and that against measles is fully reimbursed.
“Moderate” service provided
The lower reimbursement of Beyfortus results from an evaluation by the High Authority for Health (HAS) which described its actual benefit as “moderate”.
The HAS, which updated its opinion on Wednesday, took into account the data recorded last season, showing a clear drop in hospitalizations thanks to Beyfortus. But she also notes a lack of conclusive data on the heaviest consequences for hospitals to manage, in particular passages in intensive care.
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