Maternal Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccination: Current Status and Comparison to Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs) for RSV Prevention in Infants and Children

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) causes over 50,000 hospitalizations annually among children under five years of age, leading to long-term consequences, such as asthma. Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) have been recommended for prevention, but their limitations have prompted the search for alternative preventive measures. The recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a maternal RSV vaccine with 80% efficacy in protecting infants up to 90 days post-birth marks a significant advancement. Our narrative review investigates the differences in RSV immunization in pregnant mothers versus infants and children, with the goal of identifying factors that influence parental decisions. This study provides insights for optimising preventive strategies, and the results highlight the importance of maternal vaccination in combating RSV in children.