Wellness Hour | A Vaccine For Pregnant Women

The South African government is currently reviewing a proposal to provide a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine to all pregnant women. RSV is a major cause of severe respiratory illness in infants, often leading to hospitalization and even fatalities. This potential rollout represents a crucial step toward protecting newborns from RSV’s dangers and reducing infant morbidity and mortality rates. As the National Department of Health considers this recommendation, it raises important questions about vaccine access, public health priorities, and the impact on infant health outcomes across South Africa.