Respiratory syncytial virus is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants and a significant cause of serious illness in older adults. For most of its history there was little to offer beyond supportive care.
That has changed rapidly. A maternal vaccine given in pregnancy passes protective antibodies to the newborn. A long-acting monoclonal antibody, nirsevimab, protects infants directly through their first RSV season. And vaccines are now available for adults, generally recommended for those 60 and older based on risk.
Together these tools protect the two groups most vulnerable to severe RSV.
The practical challenge now is implementation: making sure eligible pregnant patients, infants, and older adults actually receive the option that fits them before the season arrives.