BANGKOK, Thailand – On June 2, 2025, Southeast Asia and India marked a historic milestone in the fight against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), as the first baby in the region received immunization using a solution designed to protect all infants. This groundbreaking event highlights the urgent need to shield newborns from RSV, a disease that poses a serious threat to infant health across the region.
RSV is a leading cause of acute lower respiratory infections in children worldwide, resulting in over 3.6 million hospitalizations and 160,000 deaths annually among children under five years of age. Approximately 90% of infants and young children will contract RSV within their first two years of life. Although RSV can infect anyone in the general population, infants under one year of age—whether born preterm or full-term—are at the highest risk. In fact, RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization in babies under 12 months. The disease burden is substantial.
Prof. Somsak Lohlekha, Former President of the Royal College of Pediatricians of Thailand (RCPedT), said, “The introduction of RSV immunization is a critical step toward reducing the burden of this disease. The Royal College of Pediatricians of Thailand (RCPedT) has issued the Clinical Practice Guideline on the use of Nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, to reduce the severity of RSV infection as follows: administer Nirsevimab to all healthy infants under 8 months of age, and consider it for healthy infants aged 8 to 12 months, as a single dose before the outbreak season (June to October). Immunization provides a vital layer of protection, helping to prevent hospitalizations and deaths associated with RSV. This offers hope for a healthier future for infants in the region. We are thrilled to witness the first baby in Southeast Asia and India being immunized against RSV with a solution designed to protect all infants. This marks a significant advancement in our efforts to safeguard the most vulnerable members of our society. RSV has long been a major health challenge, and this immunization represents a new era in protecting our children’s health.”
As the RSV season approaches in June, parents are encouraged to consult with their healthcare providers about immunization options and take proactive steps to protect their newborns and infants from this potentially serious respiratory infection as soon as possible. (NNT)
