RSV infections: vaccination for pregnant women could save lives

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Around 1,100 children in Austria have to go to hospital every year because of RSV. Vaccinations for pregnant women provide protection for newborns. Find out more about the risks and prevention options.

RSV infections: vaccination for pregnant women could save lives

Every year around 1,100 children in Austria are in hospital due to an infection with the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This number illustrates the widespread spread of the virus, from which the youngest children in particular suffer. Scientific studies show that almost 97 percent of children become infected in the first two years of life.

Most of those affected are newborns or very young children; About half of the hospitalized children are less than three months old. This makes RSV a serious health risk for the very youngest patients in our country. An analysis has found that premature babies and children with certain heart abnormalities or chronic lung diseases are particularly at risk. Around 1.2 percent of premature babies who are treated for RSV die as a result of this disease.

Link to asthma

A worrying aspect of RSV infections is the possible link to asthma. A recent study has shown that children who have RSV bronchiolitis have a higher risk of developing asthma in later childhood. These data suggest that the condition not only poses acute risks but may also have long-term health effects on children's respiratory systems. An association between the presence of specific antibodies against RSV and asthma was also found.

In order to prevent the spread and the serious consequences of RSV, new prevention options have been available since this season. One of these is the RSV vaccination for pregnant women, which is recommended from the 24th week of pregnancy. By immunizing pregnant women, babies can receive protective antibodies during pregnancy that protect them against RSV in the first few months after birth.

Patrick Stelzl from the Kepler University Medical Faculty emphasizes that pregnancy is a phase in which women are particularly susceptible to infections. Through targeted vaccination, both expectant mothers and their newborns can be better protected. The effectiveness of these vaccinations is high, with evidence showing them to be over 81 percent effective within 90 days of birth.

In other countries such as the USA and Great Britain, the RSV vaccination for pregnant women is already financially supported, while in Austria there are still no corresponding regulations. The approach of offering vaccinations to pregnant women could help significantly reduce the number of hospitalizations in children due to RSV and ensure their long-term health. This development is crucial to raise awareness of RSV and promote effective protective measures for affected families.

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