Brazil Launches Free Maternal RSV Shots for Pregnant Women Nationwide

Overview

• State and city rollouts began this week, with São Paulo, the Federal District, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Teresina and Acre already vaccinating and Fortaleza set to start on Monday.
• Eligibility targets pregnant women from 28 weeks of gestation for a single dose in each pregnancy, with ID and proof of gestational age required at clinics and maternity units.
• The Ministry of Health invested R$1.17 billion, plans to procure 4.2 million additional doses through 2027 and set an 80% coverage goal, supported by technology transfer to Instituto Butantan for local production.
• Clinical data cited by health authorities indicate about 81.8% efficacy in preventing severe RSV disease in infants during the first 90 days of life, with coadministration allowed with influenza and COVID-19 vaccines.
• The program aims to cut infant hospitalizations for bronchiolitis and pneumonia—potentially preventing around 28,000 admissions annually—by making a vaccine that cost up to R$1,500 privately available at no charge.