Maternal RSV vaccination, antibody therapy urged in new WHO recommendations – National [Video]

The World Health Organization on Tuesday recommended maternal vaccination and the use of an antibody therapy to prevent respiratory synctial virus (RSV) in infants.

The recommendations, to administer both the shot and the antibody or either, come after the WHO’s strategic advisory group on immunization met last week.

For countries that decide to use a maternal vaccine, WHO said it recommends a single shot in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Drugmaker Pfizer’s shot is approved in the United States and Canada for use in women during the middle of the third trimester of pregnancy to protect their babies.

Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Sanofi SASY.PA and AstraZeneca’s AZN.L antibody therapy, Beyfortus, to prevent RSV in infants and toddlers.

The manufacturers received approval for an additional manufacturing line in September for …