State encourages pregnant women to get RSV vaccine

With cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) rising across Wisconsin, the Department of Health Services is urging pregnant Wisconsinites to get the vaccine to protect their baby from the virus.

As of January 10, there have been 1,402 people in Wisconsin hospitalized with RSV this season, 580 of those are children under the age of two.

The RSV vaccine Abrysvo can be given to women who are pregnant between 32 weeks and 36 weeks, six days of the pregnancy. It protects newborns until they are six months old, DHS said.

The vaccine was approved for use in 2023 and is considered safe and effective. Pregnant women should ask their health care provider if they can get the vaccine, DHS said.