SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, infects people of all ages, however, it can be dangerous for babies and some young children. As many as 80,000 children under 5 in the United States are hospitalized each year due to the disease.
Fortunately, there are proven-effective methods to significantly reduce severe illness for babies. Here’s what the American Lung Association, with support from Sanofi, wants caregivers, parents, and expectant parents to know about protecting their babies from RSV:
RSV is common. RSV is so common that by age 2, nearly 100% of children will be infected. Most people, including infants, develop only mild symptoms, like that of a common cold. For some though, RSV can be severe and even life threatening. All infants are at increased risk for severe illness. If a child does come down with RSV and they are having difficulty breathing, not drinking enough, or their symptoms are getting worse, it’s time to seek emergency care.
RSV season is now. The RSV season typically starts in the fall and peaks in the winter in the United States. Because of this, parents should take action to protect their infants, especially those under eight months old and those born throughout the entire season.
There are multiple ways to protect infants. It is recommended that all babies be protected from severe RSV by one of these two immunization options during RSV season (most babies do not need both):
• A preventive antibody for infants younger than 8 months old and born during or entering their first RSV season. Preventive antibodies are not vaccines, but rather proteins that mimic the immune system’s naturally produced antibodies to help fight off harmful viruses. A single dose provides protection for at least five months and begins working right away. Young children between 8 and 19 months at increased risk for severe RSV symptoms, including children with chronic lung disease, are recommended to receive an RSV preventive antibody.
• An RSV vaccination received during weeks 32 through 36 weeks of pregnancy. Protection lasts about six months after birth.
These methods are effective. Marking the second RSV season with widespread availability of both preventive options, 2025-2026 resulted in a reduced risk of severe RSV and RSV-related hospitalizations in infants. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analysis of RSV hospitalization rates among two surveillance groups from October 2024 through February 2025 found hospitalization rates 45% and 52% lower for infants 0-2 months during peak RSV season (December through February) and 28% and 43% lower for those 0-7 months old, compared to pre-pandemic (2018) rates.
Preventive actions can also help. RSV is spread person-to-person via coughing and sneezing, by touching objects that have the virus on them, and by direct contact, like when kissing a baby while sick with RSV. That is why parents and caregivers of babies are also encouraged to follow everyday preventive actions like:
• Avoiding close contact with sick people
• Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue
• Washing hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds
• Cleaning frequently touched surfaces
• Staying home and avoiding close contact with others when sick
• Avoiding shared cups, bottles or toys
For more information and to learn more, visit Lung.org/rsv.
Severe RSV can be unpredictable. As the leading cause of hospitalization in infants, it is vital for parents and caregivers to take RSV seriously, and to protect their babies.
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