Maternal RS virus vaccination uptake remains low in Japan: survey

The coverage rate of maternal vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus stood at 11.6 percent in Japan due to the high out-of-pocket payment and a lack of awareness following its introduction in the country in May 2024, according to a national health institute.The RS virus is a major cause of acute lower respiratory infections in children, and immunizing pregnant women provides protection for their newborns through transplacental antibody transfer.A research team led by the National Center for Child Health and Development conducted a nationwide survey of women who had given birth betw…READ FULL ARTICLE