CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE MEMBER SOCIETIES RE-EVALUATION OF PALIVIZUMAB USAGE IN ISRAEL The new recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) calling for a more limited and narrower usage of palivzumab (synagis) for the prevention of RSV in high risk groups have caused some confusion among pediatricians in Israel. <...> For the last decade several professional associations in Israel especially the Neonatology and The Pediatric Pulmonology Associations have advocated for a gradual expansion of the populations eligible for this expensive technology. <...> While 14 years ago synagis was recommended for 200 infants born than 28 weeks and those with chronic lung diseases, the funding for the prophylaxis was consistently increased and recently includes all infants born 34 week + 7 days and included 2750 eligible infants. <...> Palivizumab has been proven effective in reducing hospitalizations following RSV infection at high risk groups. 2. <...> Palivizumab has not been proven to reduce mortality associated with RSV infection. 3. <...> The cost of prevention of 1 RSV hospitalization is different among different countries and could be quite high ( 250,000$ in most models). 5. <...> Palivizumab prophylaxis may decrease wheezing episodes among treated infants. 6. <...> While palivizumab may reduce hospitalizations among high risk patients its usage is not supposed to significantly affect the total burden of RSV infection since the overwhelming part of RSV hospitalization affect otherwise healthy infants who are not eligible for RSV prophylaxis. <...> Updated guidance for palivizumab prophylaxis among infants and young children at increased risk of hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus infection. <...> American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Diseases and Committee of Fetus and Newborn. <...> Prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infections: indications for the use of palivizumab and update on the use of RSV-IGIV. <...> Palivizumab, a Humanized Respiratory Syncytial Virus Mono clonal Antibody, Reduces Hospitalization From Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in High-risk Infants. <...> From the American Academy of Pediatrics: Policy statements — Modified recommendations for use ofpalivizumab for prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infections. <...> Respiratory syncytial virus and recurrent wheeze in healthy preterm infants. <...> Effect of palivizumab prophylaxis on subsequent recurrent wheezing in preterm infants. <...> Andabaka T, Nickerson JW, Rojas-Reyes MX <...>