Singapore Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has approved the Pfizer's bivalent vaccine, Abryvso, for active immunization of pregnant individuals at 32 through 36 weeks gestational age for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) and severe LRTD caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants from birth through 6 months of age and for active immunization for the prevention of LRTD caused by RSV in individuals 60 years of age and older.

Abrysvo is the first RSV vaccine approved for use in both older adults and pregnant individuals. The bivalent vaccine is composed of recombinant RSV prefusion viz., RSVpreFA and RSVpreFB and RSVpreF. Starting from November 2024, patients at risk of RSV can access this vaccine at clinics and hospitals island wide.

Dr Sean Gardiner, Medical Cluster Lead, Pfizer Malaysia-Indonesia-Singapore-Philippines (MISP) said “This is aligned with our efforts to safeguard our most vulnerable, including babies via material immunization, and seniors.”

RSV disease is caused by two major virus subgroups: RSV A and RSV B, as an virus that can affect the lungs and breathing passages of an infected individual, potentially causing serious complications in babies, especially infants under six months, as well as high-risk older adults. In Singapore, around 75% of RSV hospitalizations occur in children under six months, who are 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalized than older infants. In Asian countries, RSV causes 30% to 80% of respiratory infections/ pneumonia in elderly patients.

"RSV is a contagious virus and a common cause of respiratory illness worldwide. The availability of this RSV vaccine marks a significant step in pediatric healthcare, providing infants with early protection through their mothers. This would reduce their risk of developing severe forms of lower respiratory tract infection which presently cause significant morbidity in infants,” said Dr. Mohana Rajakulendran, Paediatrician, Petite Practice.