RSV Rent Attacks Babies, Vaccination Of Pregnant Women Can Prevent Infection
JAKARTA - Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is an easily contagious respiratory disease that can become harmful to sufferers. This disease is much more dangerous for high-risk groups, especially infants under the age of 6 and the elderly.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), RSV causes an estimated 3.6 million cases to require hospitalizations and around 100,000 deaths in children under the age of 5 worldwide.
About half of the deaths from RSV in children occur in infants under the age of 6 months. A total of 97 percent of deaths from RSV in children and infants occur in low- and middle-income countries, where access to supportive medical care is limited.
Regarding infection with RSV in babies, in particular, is very dangerous, because it can cause serious complications. Therefore, transmission must be overcome since the mother's pregnancy.
Pediatrician, dr. Ian Suryadi Suteja, M.Med, Sc, Sp.A, said prevention of transmission of RSV in babies can be given through vaccines in pregnant women. Vaccines are given at the gestational age of 32 to 36 weeks, in order to provide double protection for mothers and babies.
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"Those who are injected into pregnant women in the final trimester. So, this vaccine can protect mothers and babies," said Doctor Ian, during a media talk with Pfizer, in Sudirman, Jakarta, on Friday, October 31, 2025.
After being vaccinated, the mother's body will form antibodies to the RSV. The antibodies are transferred naturally to the fetus through the placenta, so that the baby gets passive shelter against the RSV infection in the first six months of its life.
Meanwhile, the RSV vaccine for babies must be given from the time it comes to the mother's womb, because there is no special RSV vaccine for babies. Doctor Ian said that the baby-only RSV vaccine is still under further research.
"Still in further research. Hopefully in the next few years there will be a vaccine that can be directly given to the baby," concluded Doctor Ian.