According to federal data, infant hospitalizations due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in the United States decreased by up to 43% last year compared to previous years, thanks to the widespread availability of preventative shots. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Thursday that RSV-related hospitalizations dropped by 28% and 43% across two national databases, compared to rates from 2018-2020. The study excluded data from 2020 to 2023 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on RSV seasonality and circulation.
The 2024-2025 season saw the introduction of preventive shots against RSV, a virus that can lead to severe infections and even death in infants and older adults despite causing cold-like symptoms. Additionally, CDC data revealed a decrease in the infant mortality rate in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Preventive shots such as Pfizer’s Abrysvo maternal vaccine and Sanofi and AstraZeneca’s Beyfortus antibody shot are available in the U.S. to protect infants from RSV infections. The CDC noted that the most significant reductions in hospitalization rates were seen among infants up to 2 months old. The infant mortality rate in the U.S. dropped to 5.49 in 2024 from 5.63 the previous year.
The data indicate that severe RSV disease in infants up to seven months old can be preventable, emphasizing the importance of protecting infants, especially those born during the RSV season, ideally within their first week of life.
