Lower-Cost Vaccine Could Expand Access
The World Health Organization (WHO) has prequalified a multi-dose vial of the maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, RSVpreF (ABRYSVO), marking a step towards expanding protection against severe RSV disease in infants.
As per the WHO, the multi-dose presentation is expected to reduce costs and simplify large-scale vaccine delivery, particularly in countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.
Protecting Infants Through Maternal Immunisation
RSV causes more than 3.6 million hospitalisations and around 100,000 deaths among children under five each year. Nearly half of these deaths occur in infants younger than six months, while about 97% occur in low- and middle-income countries.
The maternal vaccine transfers antibodies from the mother to the baby before birth, providing protection during the first six months of life. WHO recommends administering RSVpreF to pregnant women during the third trimester, from 28 weeks onwards.
Supporting Wider Vaccine Introduction
The multi-dose vial builds on WHO’s prequalification of the single-dose presentation in March 2025. WHO recommends that countries introduce either the maternal RSV vaccine or the monoclonal antibody nirsevimab as part of national programmes.