According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the infant mortality rate in the United States decreased to approximately 5.5 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, down from 5.6 in the previous two years. This decline is believed to be partly due to a vaccination campaign targeting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common cause of illness that can be dangerous for infants. Experts suggest that initiatives such as administering an RSV vaccine to pregnant women and providing antibody shots for infants have contributed to the positive trend. Additionally, the 2024-25 respiratory virus season saw a significant decrease in infant hospitalizations compared to previous years. While progress has been made in reducing infant mortality, further research is needed to fully understand all contributing factors to these improvements.
