Indian Health Service Extends Recommended Dates for Maternal RSV Vaccine for Pregnant AI/AN People

The Indian Health Service Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Loretta Christensen, has extended the recommended dates for administration of maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) Vaccine for pregnant American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people. This extension aims to protect newborn infants from RSV during the 2023-2024 respiratory virus season. Eligible AI/AN people who are 32-36 weeks pregnant should continue to be offered one dose of Pfizer’s bivalent RSVpreF vaccine (Abrysvo™) through the end of February 2024.

RSV is a common cause of respiratory infection in U.S. infants and is the leading cause of hospitalization among U.S. infants. The highest incidence of RSV-associated hospitalization occurs in infants aged <3 months. RSV prevention products focus on passive immunization of infants through maternal immunization or immunoprophylaxis with monoclonal antibodies.

Healthcare providers are encouraged to offer RSVpreF vaccine (Abrysvo™, Pfizer) to pregnant people during 32 weeks’ gestation through 36 weeks and 6 days’ gestation to prevent RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease in infants. Either RSVpreF vaccination or nirsevimab (Beyfortus™) immunization for infants is recommended, but administration of both products is not needed for most infants.

In most of the continental U.S., pregnant people should receive RSV vaccine from September through January. However, RSV seasons can vary in different parts of the U.S. Local, state, and territorial health departments can determine the best times to start and stop administration of RSV vaccines in their jurisdictions.