Pregnant women. Respiratory Syncytial Virus: compulsory vaccination of pregnant women continues throughout the country.

It is applied in a single dose for pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation. It protects newborns from bronchiolitis and pneumonia up to six months of life. It is also recommended for people over 60 years of age.

Vaccination for pregnant women against Respiratory Syncytial Virus begins (Prensa Gobierno de Córdoba)

Since March 1, the compulsory vaccination campaign against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) for pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation is underway in Cordoba and throughout the country, in the network of vaccination centers throughout the province.

The campaign, which will take place until July 31, aims to protect the baby during the first six months of life against severe forms of respiratory syncytial virus infection, the main cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia at that stage.
Through this immunization, the pregnant woman transfers antibodies through the placenta and then through breastfeeding to the baby.

Respiratory syncytial virus

It should be noted that it can be administered together with any of the other vaccines indicated during pregnancy (acellular MMR, influenza, COVID-19 and hepatitis B).

About RSV

RSV is the cause of the majority of acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) in childhood and of hospitalizations due to this cause. In children under one year of age, bronchiolitis is the most severe form of presentation of this virus, which can occur in previously healthy children without comorbidities.

Paula Barbero, coordinator of Immunization of the Ministry of Health said that this virus is responsible for the highest number of hospitalizations for lower respiratory infections in children under one year of age.

He added that the vaccine is given to pregnant women because in this way they transmit the antibodies to the baby during gestation and then during breastfeeding through breast milk up to six months of age.

RSV prevention

There are everyday preventive measures to help reduce the spread of RSV and other respiratory illnesses such as washing hands with soap and water frequently, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, staying home when sick, etc.

For those at higher risk of RSV infection, vaccination is a key tool. It has already been approved by Anmat and is indicated for immunization of pregnant women and adults over 60 years of age. The free vaccination, included in the national calendar, is currently only for pregnant women.

The so-called 'RSV stabilized bivalent prefusion F vaccine (RSVpreF)' is the first vaccine approved in the country for the prevention of respiratory infections -that is, those that affect the lungs and can cause pneumonia and bronchiolitis- produced by the Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

Gonzalo Pérez Marc, pediatrician and Principal Investigator of the RSV vaccine clinical trial in Argentina, highlighted: "Within the first 90 days of life, the efficacy of this vaccine applied to pregnant women to protect babies from severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus disease is over 82%. And up to six months of age, it is still sustained at 70%, which represents high protection levels".