Staff Reports
An independent panel of advisers for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that pregnant women receive Pfizer’s respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine to protect their newborns. The vaccine, recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adults over the age of 60, is now being recommended for pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks gestation during cold and flu season.
RSV, while usually causing mild symptoms in individuals with healthy immune systems, can be severe for elderly adults and children under the age of 3. According to the CDC, RSV kills over 6,000 older adults and hospitalizes more than 60,000 per year. Additionally, over 2 million children under the age of 5 receive treatment for RSV outside of the hospital annually, with up to 80,000 children under 5 being hospitalized.
This recommendation comes after the FDA’s approval of an RSV vaccine for infants and toddlers over eight months old in July. CDC Director Mandy Cohen supported this recommendation in August. If Cohen gives her final approval, Pfizer will be able to provide the RSV vaccine to both pregnant women and those most at risk.
It’s great to see that medical advancements are being made to protect vulnerable populations from diseases like RSV. Pregnant women play a crucial role in ensuring the health of their babies, and this vaccine will offer them an extra layer of protection. The CDC and FDA are prioritizing the health of both mothers and newborns, which is commendable. This is yet another example of the importance of vaccinations in preventing illness and promoting public health.
