SPONSORED CONTENT -- (StatePoint) Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is spreading across the country, but it’s not too late to take steps to protect babies from severe illness associated with the virus.
While it is true that by age 2, nearly 100% of children will be infected with RSV, for many, the illness can be severe – potentially leading to other infections like bronchiolitis and pneumonia – and even life threatening. In fact, RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalization. The youngest infants, children born prematurely, and those with chronic lung disease, weakened immune systems, congenital heart disease and other conditions, are most at risk of severe infection. However, of children hospitalized due to RSV, 75% were born at full term with no underlying conditions, making precautions important for everyone.
As part of a campaign to help keep all infants and young children healthy, the American Lung Association, in partnership with Sanofi, is sharing these insights about RSV with parents, expectant parents, and caregivers of infants:
Multiple forms of protection are available and work right away: Fortunately, there are safe and proven-effective methods to dramatically reduce severe illness from RSV. For most infants, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends one of these forms of protection:
• Throughout the season, including February and March, an RSV preventive antibody is recommended for all infants younger than 8 months old and born during or entering their first RSV season, and young children between 8 and 19 months at increased risk for severe RSV symptoms, including children with chronic lung disease. 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.
• An RSV vaccination given during weeks 32-36 of pregnancy. This option is recommended earlier in the season, from September through January. Protection lasts about six months after birth.
Protection is effective: Winter 2024-2025 was the first RSV season with widespread availability of both the preventive antibody and vaccination, resulting in a significant decrease in infant hospitalizations. A CDC 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 and 28% and 43% lower for those 0-7 months old, compared to 2018 rates. Despite this encouraging trend, RSV is circulating nationwide with hospitalizations increasing especially in infants less than 1, making it important to take recommended preventive steps and discuss immunization with your healthcare provider.
Symptoms to watch out for: RSV symptoms are not usually severe right away, however, they may become more severe a few days after symptoms begin and can be unpredictable. Call your healthcare provider if your child is having difficulty breathing, not drinking enough, or their symptoms are getting worse.
You can help prevent spreading RSV: RSV is spread person to person through sneezing and coughing; by touching objects such as toys or doorknobs that have the virus on them; or through direct contact, like when kissing a baby while sick with RSV. Taking these everyday preventative actions can help stop the spread of RSV:
• Avoiding close contact with sick people
• Covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue
• Washing your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds
• Cleaning frequently touched surfaces
• Staying home and avoiding close contact with others when you are sick, including keeping your distance from babies even if you are mildly ill
• Avoiding shared cups, bottles or toys
• Improving indoor air quality
For more information about RSV in babies, visit https://www.lung.org/rsv.
Welcoming a baby into the world is an exciting time, with many new opportunities, questions, and steps to take to be prepared. One step that shouldn’t be missed is a conversation with your healthcare team about RSV.
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