Context
RSV is a common virus that can cause severe illness in young children. Innovative immunisation strategies have recently been approved to protect infants against RSV, and their implementation needs to be carefully prepared.
RSV is the leading cause of hospitalisations for infants in their first year of life, with over 85% of hospitalisations occurring in otherwise healthy infants who were born at term. It is a seasonal virus that peaks during the winter months in many parts of the world, putting significant pressure on health systems.
There are no treatments for RSV, so prevention is key to protecting infants from severe illness. There are new options available for RSV prevention in infants, including an immunisation given during pregnancy, a short-acting monoclonal antibody (mAb) administered monthly to infants at risk of severe disease, and a long-acting mAb designed for all infants entering their first RSV season.
Careful planning is required to ensure health systems are ready to implement immunisation strategies for RSV in a way that maximises protection for all infants. And, as mAbs represent an innovative approach to RSV prevention, successful implementation may require adaptations to achieve this. The long-acting mAb has already been implemented in countries including France, Spain and the US, and the lessons learnt from these programmes can be used to inform policymakers and health system planners in other countries.
