New Vaccines May Help Babies Defeat Severe RSV Infections

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) calls public health leaders and policy makers to strengthen respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunization efforts to protect babies from serious respiratory conditions. Infants under six months age group experience increased risk of respiratory complications such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis (inflammation of small airways in lungs), frequently prompting to intensive care.

Such vaccination programs could help prevent kids from RSV infections, especially during winter.(1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Protecting infants against respiratory syncytial virus this winter — ECDC issues advice

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“Respiratory syncytial virus can cause a very severe illness in infants, even in those who are healthy, having a significant impact on their families and healthcare systems”, states ECDC senior expert Bruno Ciancio.

Why Babies Under Five Need Urgent RSV Protection

It is imperative that healthcare workers are aware of RSV epidemiology in their community and follow national guidelines for the prevention of RSV in their patients.

On average, an estimated 250 000 children under the age of five are hospitalised each year across Europe due to RSV infection, with every third child hospitalised during their first months of life.

Available surveillance data for the EU and EEA show that every second person who tested positive for RSV during the winter season 2024/25 was a young child aged 0–4 years. Twelve per cent of those children were admitted to intensive care units, and one child died.

Since 2022, the EU has authorised safe and effective immunisation products to prevent RSV disease in infants.

Monoclonal Antibodies vs. Maternal Vaccines for Dual Protection

These include long-acting monoclonal antibodies given to newborns and infants during their first winter season and maternal vaccines for pregnant people to protect infants during their first months of life.

“Severe cases of RSV in infants can be prevented by vaccinating pregnant individuals or by immunising infants after birth.”

“Premature babies and those with chronic lung conditions are particularly vulnerable to severe illness and can be prioritised for immunisation when universal immunisation is not possible,” Ciancio adds.

Strengthening RSV Immunisation and Data Collection

Twenty-three countries across the EU/EEA already recommend RSV immunisation with long-acting monoclonal antibodies and 19 of these have funded programmes in place, either for all babies born during the winter season (universal immunisation) or for infants at high risk of severe illness.

Three EU/EEA countries (Poland, Romania, Slovenia) use maternal vaccination exclusively and five countries (Belgium, Cyprus, France, Greece, Luxembourg) offer it as an alternative for protection alongside long-acting monoclonal antibodies.

To support EU/EEA countries, ECDC will continue to generate and assess evidence on RSV immunisation effectiveness and impact, as well as strengthen surveillance and immunisation programmes in the EU.

Reference:

1. Protecting infants against respiratory syncytial virus this winter — ECDC issues advice - (https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/protecting-infants-against-respiratory-syncytial-virus-winter-ecdc-issues-advice)

Source-Eurekalert