After a spike in the number of cases of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the fall, data published on Wednesday showed that an experimental vaccine was 82% effective for infants when given to pregnant women.
When administered to pregnant women in the second half of their pregnancies, the Pfizer-developed vaccine was 82% effective in preventing severe cases of RSV in infants. The drug company’s preliminary findings from last year were confirmed by the final data published on Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
More on the Pfizer Vaccine
The experimental vaccine’s success comes as the number of RSV cases in the United States spiked alarmingly toward the end of 2022. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of confirmed virus cases increased, reaching a peak of more than 20,000 in a week in mid-November. At the end of 2022, there were eight weeks in a row where more than 10,000 cases were reported.
RSV is a common respiratory virus that can be fatal in young and older adults. Children’s hospitals were overwhelmed by the influx of young patients with more severe cases of the illness the previous year due to the rise in cases.
The Pfizer vaccine would be the first vaccine that could be given to mothers against the virus. By August, the Food and Drug Administration will decide regarding its commercial use.
| Read More news: Click here |
