WHO Recommends Vaccinating Pregnant Women, Administering Infants With Antibody To Prevent Severe RSV Infection In Newborns

Reuters (10/1, Tandon, Satija) reports, “The World Health Organization on Tuesday recommended vaccinating pregnant women and administering infants with an antibody to prevent severe respiratory [syncytial] virus (RSV) infection in newborns.” The “WHO recommended a single shot for pregnant women, in the third trimester that typically starts at 28 weeks, to protect their babies.” Pfizer’s RSV shot, called “Abrysvo, is the only available vaccine in the United States and Europe for use in pregnant women.” For toddlers and infants, “Sanofi and AstraZeneca’s antibody, Beyfortus [nirsevimab-alip], is again the only approved shot in the U.S., United Kingdom and some other countries – but its supply has been limited.”