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Swedish Study Finds Healthy Newborns at High Risk of Severe RSV, Spurring Expanded Protections

New evidence shows protection should extend beyond traditionally defined high‑risk groups.

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Why Shouldn't You Kiss Babies? New Study Shows Even Healthy Newborns Can Become Severely Ill With RSV
Pharmacy manager Aylen Amestoy draws a dose of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine into a syringe as she prepares a shot for a patient at a CVS Pharmacy in Miami, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Overview

  • A nationwide Karolinska Institutet cohort of 2.3 million Swedish births (2001–2022) found 1.7% diagnosed with RSV, with just under 12% of those cases severe and a median intensive‑care age just under two months, most without underlying disease.
  • Risk factors for intensive care or death included winter birth and having siblings aged 0–3 or a twin (about threefold increases), being small at birth (almost fourfold), and pre‑existing medical conditions (over fourfold).
  • Sweden began offering a long‑acting antibody dose to all newborns during the RSV season on Sept. 10, a measure expected to protect infants for roughly six months.
  • Nova Scotia made RSV shots free for infants under eight months and adults 75+, with seniors able to book now and newborns receiving doses before discharge or via primary care; appointments start Sept. 15.
  • Prevention also includes maternal vaccination to protect infants, with England’s NHS running an RSV program for pregnant women from 28 weeks and adults aged 75–79 since Sept. 1, 2024.