Recent studies have shown that the newly released RSV vaccine, nirsevimab, has been highly effective at preventing hospitalization in infants. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nirsevimab was 90% effective at preventing RSV-associated hospitalization in infants during their first RSV season.
Real-world usage of nirsevimab has also outperformed data from clinical trials, reducing the risk of hospitalizations by 70%-75%. A recent study looked at 699 infants from October 2023 through February 2024, with the CDC cautioning that the overall effectiveness of the vaccine may be lower once the full RSV season is complete.
RSV, a common respiratory virus, causes 58,000 hospitalizations annually among children under age 5. High-risk groups for RSV include premature infants, young infants, and children with chronic lung or heart disease. Symptoms of RSV in infants can include a runny nose, decreased appetite, and cough, with the potential to worsen if not treated promptly.
The vaccine is recommended for infants younger than 8 months entering their first RSV season, as well as pregnant individuals between weeks 32-36 if their period falls between September and January. The effectiveness of nirsevimab highlights the importance of vaccinating infants and high-risk groups against RSV to prevent hospitalization and serious complications related to the virus.
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