Universal RSV vaccination unlikely for pregnant women and elderly: expert

Local experts have recommended not to implement universal vaccination against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for pregnant women due to possible side effects, University of Hong Kong pediatric expert Lau Yu-lung said.

Lau, who chairs the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases under the Centre for Health Protection, said in a radio program Monday that RSV vaccination for pregnant women could help prevent their newborn babies from developing serious illnesses following infection of the common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.

But clinical data from some countries showed that preterm birth and gestational hypertension might occur in pregnant women after vaccination, Lau said, adding that vaccine manufacturers also have recommended RSV shots at 32 to 36 weeks of pregnancy only.

Due to this, he said the scientific committee does not currently recommend universal RSV vaccination for pregnant women.

Expectant moms may receive the RSV vaccination as an individual decision after consulting their family doctors, he said.

Lau also said a report from the United States Food and Drug Administration showed the vaccine recipient may develop Guillain–Barré syndrome – a rare neurological disorder in which a person’s immune system mistakenly attacks part of their peripheral nervous system.

The committee recommended elderly citizens aged 75 or above and those living in elderly care homes should get the jab after discussing it with doctors, he said.

(Wallis Wang)