RSV vaccine for pregnant women protects their newborns but is it ready for US sale?
Federal health advisers are debating a first-of-its-kind RSV vaccine to protect newborns by immunizing their moms late in pregnancy
By LAURAN NEERGAARD
Published - May 18, 2023, 10:28 AM ET
Last Updated - Jun 21, 2023, 06:17 PM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) — A first-of-its-kind RSV vaccine for pregnant women guards their newborns against the scary respiratory virus -– and federal health advisers debated Thursday if Pfizer’s shot is ready to roll out.
RSV fills hospitals with wheezing babies each fall and winter, and the virus struck earlier than usual and especially hard in the U.S. this past year..
Vaccinating moms-to-be “would have a major impact,” said Dr. Alejandra Gurtman, Pfizer’s vaccine research chief.
The idea: Give women a single injection late in pregnancy, between 24 weeks and 36 weeks, so they develop RSV-fighting antibodies that pass through the placenta — just like they pass protection against other bugs to their babies.
