SNAP ANALYSIS
Geneva, 5 November 2025 – Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi), in collaboration with global health partners, has commenced the design phase of a new maternal vaccine programme targeting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) burden in lower-income countries. This milestone, which coincides with RSV Awareness Week 2025, is a critical step towards protecting the most at-risk newborns and infants around the world from one of the leading causes of infant respiratory illness and hospitalisation.
RSV is the second leading cause of infant mortality after malaria, claiming the lives of over 100,000 children each year and hospitalising a further 3.6 million, which places a heavy burden on families and health systems, especially in lower- and middle-income countries, where 99% of deaths occur. Tragically, in most cases, children die at home before reaching a hospital. RSV is also the predominant infectious cause of severe pneumonia in this age group globally.
In response to this urgent health challenge, Gavi’s Board – guided by its Vaccine Investment Strategy – approved the establishment of an RSV maternal vaccine programme for countries eligible for Gavi support in the Gavi 6.0 strategic period. Earlier this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) prequalified the first-ever maternal RSV vaccine to protect infants.
Thanks to these critical milestones, Gavi’s RSV vaccination programme has now entered its design phase, with a dedicated cross-sector coordination team overseeing its development, supporting country-level planning and engaging with stakeholders in RSV infection prevention and control.
Once both the design phase is complete, Gavi and its partners will coordinate with key stakeholders in immunisation, maternal and child health, and health systems delivery to support countries – with the goal to implement successful and high impact vaccine roll-outs that reach the communities most at risk.
Commenting on the development, Dr Stephen Sosler, Head of Vaccine Programmes at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said:
“The launch of the design phase of the RSV vaccination programme marks a pivotal moment in our efforts to protect the most vulnerable from one of the leading killers of infants and newborns globally. It is also a powerful example of how our Alliance of partners can drive equitable access to life-saving vaccines. From clearly identifying a public health problem – 99% of RSV deaths occur in lower-income countries – to anticipating a solution – the recent WHO approval of a maternal RSV vaccine – we have worked hard to ensure conditions were in place to begin planning to roll out this new product to those most in need.”