WHO recommends maternal vaccine and antibody shot for preventing RSV in infants
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The World Health Organization recommended vaccinating pregnant women and administering infants with an antibody to prevent severe respiratory synctial virus (RSV) infection in newborns.
Respiratory synctial virus, which typically causes cold-like symptoms, is a leading cause of severe infection and death in babies and older adults. A majority of respiratory synctial virus -related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, with about 101,400 annual deaths in children under the age of five, according to the WHO.
WHO recommended a single shot for pregnant women, in the third trimester that typically starts at 28 weeks, to protect their babies.
Pfizer's respiratory synctial virus shot, opens new tab respiratory synctial virus shot, sold as Abrysvo, is the only available vaccine in the United States and Europe for use in pregnant women. It is also approved in a few other markets such as Japan and Canada.
For infants and toddlers, Sanofi and AstraZeneca's antibody, Beyfortus, is again the only approved shot in the U.S., United Kingdom and some other countries - but its supply has been limited.
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