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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
The WHO has prequalified a multi-dose vial version of the maternal RSV vaccine ABRYSVO®, making it more affordable and easier to roll out globally. RSV kills around 100,000 children under 5 each year — with 97% of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. The move follows Gavi's July 2025 commitment to launch a maternal RSV vaccination programme, bringing protection closer to the world's most vulnerable newborns.
The World Health Organization has prequalified the multi-dose vial presentation of RSVpreF (ABRYSVO®), a maternal RSV vaccine, marking a significant step forward in global infant health. This builds on the single-dose prequalification from March 2025 and Gavi's subsequent July 2025 decision to establish a dedicated maternal RSV vaccination programme. Developed with Gates Foundation support, the multi-dose format is designed to lower costs and simplify large-scale delivery, especially in Gavi-supported nations.
The vaccine works by transferring protective antibodies from vaccinated mothers to their babies before birth, shielding infants during their first six months of life — the window of highest vulnerability. WHO recommends it be administered to pregnant women from week 28 of the third trimester onward.
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Why it matters: RSV is one of the deadliest respiratory threats to young infants globally, and most deaths occur in places with limited healthcare access — often before a child even reaches a clinic. A more affordable, multi-dose vaccine format could be a game-changer for national immunization programmes in the countries that need it most.
