Maternal RSV Vaccine — Weighing Benefits and Risks

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) poses a substantial burden to the health of infants. An estimated 1.4 million RSV-associated hospitalizations and 45,700 RSV-attributable deaths occur worldwide each year in infants younger than 6 months of age.1 In the United States, RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants, with 2 to 3% of infants younger than 6 months of age hospitalized for RSV infection annually.2 Recently, two agents to protect young infants from severe RSV disease have become available. In July 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody,3 for use in infants; 1 month . . .