Protection from birth: Translating maternal RSV immunisation into clinical practice

Professor Dr Raman Subramaniam and Dato’ Dr Musa Mohd Nordin give their insights on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) from obstetrics and gynaecology and paediatric perspectives, respectively. Here, they highlight how maternal RSV immunisation may help address an important gap in infant protection while raising important considerations regarding implementation, education, and access. RSV is a major cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children worldwide. Most infections are self-limiting, but RSV can cause severe bronchiolitis, pneumonia, hospitalization even death, especially in the first months of life. As awareness of RSV increases, and with preventive options becoming available, maternal immunisation is emerging as a viable strategy to protect infants during their most vulnerable stage.