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The RS virus is common, and can be particularly dangerous for our littlest fighters. It is possible to get vaccinated against the RSV during pregnancy to protect the newborn baby from the first breath but how does the vaccination actually work?

Both adults and children can be infected with RSV, but infants under one year of age are more likely to become seriously ill if they are affected. The virus is a common cause of respiratory infections, causing symptoms ranging from a mild cold to severe pneumonia or bronchiolitis (which involves narrowing of the airways from the infection). All of this is tough for a small newborn baby to deal with and in some cases the infection can become so severe that it leads to hospitalization.

During the winter season, children younger than 12 months are at higher risk of hospitalization for RS virus infection than older children. Within this group, children younger than 6 months are at higher risk of hospitalization. To protect the newborn member of your family, you can get vaccinated during pregnancy.

Vaccination during pregnancy
You can get vaccinated against the RSV from week 24 of pregnancy to week 36, to protect your newborn baby from birth up to 6 months. The vaccination helps to increase the levels of antibodies in the pregnant woman, which are then transferred to the unborn baby via the placenta. As the infant's own immune system is not yet fully developed, the transferred antibodies help provide protection against the RSV during the first months of the baby's life.

What does research say about vaccination?
Studies have shown that vaccination against RSV during pregnancy can protect the newborn baby against lung disease caused by RSV. The vaccine has not been shown in studies to increase the risk of complications during delivery or the health of the baby after birth.

How to proceed?
Talk to your midwife at the MVC for tips and advice on vaccination. You can get vaccinated from week 24 of pregnancy until week 36, to protect your newborn baby from birth up to six months of age.

The text of the article was produced with the support of Pfizer AB, Pfizer.se

GCMA NR: PP-A1G-SWE-0100 Dec-2023