Entitlements of Parents of Premature Babies

Being a parent of a premature baby can be both a challenging and exciting experience. An experience that occasionally involves stress, uncertainty and projections into the future. Even before being discharged from the NICU, it is critical that you become familiar with your entitlements as parents to a premature baby as well as with the entitlements of your baby. For this purpose, we have compiled all of the relevant information.

Eligibility for the RSV vaccine

RSV is a common cause of respiratory tract infections in babies. Premature babies and babies with severe cardiovascular diseases face a greater risk of developing a serious illness with complications from this virus than other babies and are therefore entitled to receive a preventive vaccine.

The vaccine should primarily be administered in the months in which the virus is more active, in Israel this means from 1 November and until 31 March.

All information about the passive RSV vaccine is waiting for you here

Babies who may receive the vaccine:

• Premature babies with chronic pulmonary disease who require oxygen treatment - up to two years of age.
• Premature babies who were diagnosed by a typical chest x-ray and clinical symptoms (BPD - broncho-pulmonary dysplasia) at the corrected age of 36 weeks of pregnancy, and who require treatment in one of the following: oxygen, diuretics, corticosteroids (steroids), bronchodilators - up to one year of age.
• Premature babies who were born up to Week 32+6, and who have not yet turned one year of age by 1 November in the same winter season (babies born after 1 November will be vaccinated in the ensuing season as well).
• Premature babies who were born up to Week 34+6, and who have not yet turned six months of age on 1 November in that season.
• Babies regardless of the week of their birth with a birth weight of under 1 kg - up to one year of age.
• Babies regardless of the week of their birth who suffer from severe chronic pulmonary disease - up to one year of age.
• Babies with congenital heart disease and who satisfy one of the following conditions, up to one year of age:
  
  • Babies receiving drug therapy for heart failure.
  • Babies with moderate-to-severe pulmonary hypertension.
  • Babies with cyanotic heart disease.

The first vaccine is administered in the NICU around the time of discharge (in season only). The ensuing vaccinations are received in the HMO.

Extended maternity leave for mothers of hospitalized babies

Mothers of babies who are hospitalized for over 15 days are entitled to extend their maternity leave by the number of days of hospitalization from the date of birth and are entitled to maternity allowance. For example, if a baby is hospitalized for 20 days from the date of birth, the mothers may extend maternity leave by an additional 20 days.

The maximum extension based on the period of hospitalization is up to 20 weeks. Mothers of babies who are hospitalized for up to 15 days cannot receive an extension of their maternity leave.

Submitting an application for an extension of maternity allowance following hospitalization

• Attach to the claim form hospital confirmation with the details of the mother, the baby and the duration of hospitalization.
• A salaried employee must attach confirmation from the workplace of the extension or splitting of maternity leave.
• A self-employed woman must attach a written declaration.

Submitting an application to extend or split maternity allowance, on the National Insurance Institute website (Hebrew)

Eligibility to use child sick days and ‘disabled child’ allowance

Treatment of premature babies at the start of live is overwhelming and requires flexibility and finding solutions regarding the daily routine, which includes from this point on treatment, follow-up and close observation. Premature babies who are coping with various functional and developmental delays such as eating difficulties and immaturity of various systems in the body require far more attention and resources from the parents. Hence, several causes developed in National Insurance that allows for the reception of temporary child sick days and disabled child allowance (for up to 6 months).

• Sick Pay (Absence Because of a Child’s Illness) Law 5753-1993 (Hebrew)
• Main rules for establishing eligibility for a pension for premature babies from the National Insurance Institute, on the LAHAV Association website (Hebrew)

Eligibility for follow-up of premature babies in child development

Follow-up and treatment of premature babies and complex babies upon their discharge from the NICU into the community allows for continuity of care to be maintained, which is critical for maintaining their normal health and development. In 2016, the Ministry of Health circular was published that included the following innovations:

1. Recommendation to parents to register with a pediatrician and with the Family Care Center even before being discharged and to send the relevant material to facilitate continuity of care.
2. The recommendation is to meet with the pediatrician within two weeks of being discharged.
3. All premature babies will undergo a physical therapy assessment within 3 months from discharge, and complex premature babies within one month.
4. Complex premature babies will receive a nutritional assessment within one month from the date of discharge.

More information about the Premature Baby in the Community Circular on the Ministry of Health website (Hebrew)

Child development institutes

The institutes specialize in diagnosing and treating children with severe and complex developmental disorders. The institutes employ professionals from all areas of child development - specialist physicians, health care professionals: speech pathology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work psychology, alongside consultants in the relevant medical fields such as: geneticists, orthopedists, ophthalmologists, and more.

Developmental units

Children who have been diagnosed in the Child Development Institutes with various types of delays are largely referred to treatment in the Developmental Units. For example, a premature baby with a developmental delay who requires therapy in several areas must receive the therapy at the Child Development Institute or Developmental Units.

Breast milk bank

Breast milk is the healthiest and best form of nutrition for premature babies and babies in general. When the mother is unable to provide the quantity of milk needed by the baby, donated pasteurized milk from the breast milk bank may be used, particularly for premature babies.

For more information about the Breast Milk Bank

For other questions about the exercise of rights

LAHAV Association, For Premature Babies in Israel

Hotline: 03-9533935, for support, information and assistance in the NICU and after, 24/7.

The association's email: info@pagim.net

The association's website: www.pagim.net

National Insurance Institute

Hotline: *6050 or 04-8812345