LIVE UPDATES
The World Health Organization announced on Friday its recommendations for two new vaccination options aimed at safeguarding infants from Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
One option is a maternal vaccine, which is given to expectant mothers in their third trimester to shield their newborns.
The second is a long-lasting antibody injection for infants that starts providing protection within a week of administration and remains effective for at least five months.
According to the WHO, RSV is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory infections in children worldwide, accounting for approximately 100,000 deaths and 3.6 million hospitalizations annually among children under five, with infants under six months being the most vulnerable.
Disturbingly, 97% of these fatalities occur in low and middle-income nations, as reported by the WHO.
While RSV can affect individuals of any age, it poses a particular threat to infants, especially those born prematurely, remarked WHO official Kate O’Brien.
She noted that nearly half of all RSV-related deaths happen in babies younger than six months.
Given the significant global impact of severe RSV illness in infants, the WHO has urged all nations to integrate either the maternal vaccine or the antibody injection into their national immunization programs.
“These RSV immunization tools have the potential to revolutionize the battle against severe RSV illness, significantly cut down hospitalizations and fatalities, and ultimately save numerous infant lives across the globe,” Ms. O’Brien stated.
