US CDC approves Pfizer vaccine against syncytial virus – 09/23/2023 – Health

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) endorsed this Friday (22) Pfizer’s vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for women in the third trimester of pregnancy to protect their babies from serious illnesses.

The CDC recommendation was made after a panel of advisors voted 11-1 to use the vaccine in women between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy from September to January, paving the way for it to become the first maternal vaccine for the virus. seasonal respiratory system available in the country.

The vaccine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last month for use during the same window of 32 to 36 weeks of pregnancy to prevent lower respiratory tract infections and serious illnesses in babies until they are full term. six months.

Receiving the vaccine late in pregnancy should reduce a possible risk of premature births and complications that could arise from getting it earlier, doctors on the panel said.

RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild flu-like symptoms but can also lead to serious illness and hospitalizations. It’s typically a seasonal illness, starting in the fall and peaking during the winter in most of the U.S., according to the CDC.

An estimated 58,000 to 80,000 children under the age of five are hospitalized each year for RSV infection in the United States, according to government data.