Babies can be safely administered antibody protection against respiratory syncytial virus after birth even if their moms had RSV vaccination while pregnant, a new study says.
An antibody shot called nirsevimab (Beyfortus) is available after delivery to provide babies with protection against RSV, a respiratory infection that is the most common cause of hospitalization among infants.
However, prior research had not investigated the safety of such antibody treatment for babies whose moms got an RSV vaccine while pregnant, researchers reported Sunday in Atlanta at IDWeek, the joint annual meeting of America's top infectious disease professional societies.
"Our research reassures new parents that all methods of immunization for RSV are safe and provide high antibody levels to infants, which is especially important as the United States moves into its wave of seasonal respiratory illnesses," said researcher Dr. Christina Rostad, director of the Emory Children's Center Vaccine Research Clinic in Atlanta.
"The findings add to the large body of evidence that immunizations to prevent RSV are safe and effective," she added in a news release.
