In a first-ever position paper on immunisation products for infants, WHO recommended the use of maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines and long-acting RSV monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to prevent severe RSV disease in infants.
What is RSV?
As per Cleveland Clinic, RSV is a respiratory infection caused by a virus. Babies, kids and adults can get it.
Globally, respiratory syncytial virus causes about 100,000 deaths and more than 3.6 million hospitalisations in children under the age of 5. It has been observed that half of these deaths occur in infants younger than 6 months of age, according to WHO.
Symptoms:
The usual symptoms include common cold, including runny nose, cough and fever. However, it can lead to serious complications – including pneumonia and bronchiolitis – in infants, young children, older adults and even among those with compromised immune systems or underlying health conditions.
The position paper recommends two immunisation products: a vaccine (RSVpreF) that can be given to pregnant women in their third trimester to protect their infant and a long-acting monoclonal antibody (nirsevimab) that can be administered to infants from birth, just before or during the RSV season.
In order to optimise the adequate transfer of antibodies to their baby, WHO recommends the vaccine to be taken by pregnant women from week 28 onwards.
The second vaccine suggested by WHO, is given as a single injection. It starts protecting babies against rsv within a week of administration and can last for at least 5 months. It is recommended that infants receive a single dose of nirsevimab right after birth or before being discharged from a birthing facility. If not administered at birth, the monoclonal antibody can be given during the baby's first health visit.
