March 18, 2024 – 12:24 pm
As of March 1, maternal respiratory syncytial virus vaccine is included in the national vaccination calendar to protect newborns against bronchiolitis in the first months of life.
Antibodies begin to cross the placenta 15 days after vaccination and continue throughout breastfeeding. In this way, the baby is protected from birth to the first months of life. The vaccination period is between 32 and 36 weeks 6 days to maximize the effectiveness and protection of the infant.
“The addition of this vaccine is a very important resource in preventing severe respiratory disease in newborns because it begins protection of the newborn during pregnancy with what we call cocoon protection. The goal is to immunize young children during pregnancy and before one year of age, a time when respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis are most common among one-year-olds. said the coordinator of the Low Acute Respiratory Infections Program (IRAB).
Integrating maternal RSV vaccine into vaccination programs will reduce infection with the virus in girls and boys under six months of age, thereby helping to reduce neonatal and postneonatal mortality in Argentina.
To this end, he stressed that “respiratory diseases, especially in the pediatric field, remain the greatest factor affecting hospital care and morbidity and mortality”, noting that in 2023, the IRAB program registered 20,400 cases of obstructive bronchial syndrome in children Symptoms among children under the age of six reached their peak in May, and “the peak is expected to be recorded earlier this year.”
Benefits for the unborn child:
• Prevent hospitalization: RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for respiratory infections in children under one year old. Vaccination during pregnancy can significantly reduce this risk.
• Transmission of antibodies: Vaccines can transmit antibodies from mother to fetus, providing a layer of protection during the critical first months of life.
• Reduced morbidity: By preventing bronchiolitis and pneumonia caused by RSV, the morbidity associated with these acute lower respiratory tract illnesses in infants can be reduced.
Advice for pregnant women:
• Free and compulsory vaccination: The vaccine is included in the national vaccination calendar and is free and compulsory in all hospitals and health centers providing obstetric care.
• Vaccination period: Vaccination is recommended between the 32nd and 36th weeks of pregnancy to maximize the effectiveness of the vaccine and protect the baby.