<
https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/23424379/rsv-cold-virus-vaccines-monoclonal-antibodies-flu-covid-maternal-babies-infants-older-adults>
"All over the country, pediatric hospitals are packed to the gills. Although
soaring rates of several cold viruses are to blame, one baddie in particular is
responsible for much of the mayhem: respiratory syncytial virus, otherwise
known as RSV.
RSV generally causes cold symptoms but can also lead to severe lung
inflammation or infection in very young and very old people. And it’s started
off cold season with a bang: As of October 22, babies under a year old were
being hospitalized at rates six times higher than they were at the same point
in 2019, and the overall hospitalization rate was seven times higher for people
of all ages.
Every year, hundreds of children die of RSV, and tens of thousands more are
hospitalized. But for a change, this year brings some good news: It might be
the last time the virus wreaks this kind of havoc.
After decades of failed efforts to produce an RSV vaccine, several highly
effective ones are finally on the verge of approval. On Tuesday, Pfizer
announced that in a trial, its vaccine — which is given to pregnant people so
infants are protected at birth (more on that later) — prevented 69 percent of
severe RSV cases among infants 6 months and younger. Also on the horizon are
vaccines for older adults, and new monoclonal antibodies (i.e., human-made
proteins that function like antibodies in our immune systems) to help prevent
infections.
All told, experts say these products are effective enough to prevent more than
three-quarters of severe disease in both age groups."
Via
Future Crunch issue 190:
https://futurecrunch.com/
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
