New Delhi: For the first time in India, the country’s top vaccination advisory body to consider the possibility of introducing a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for infants and children below the age of 2 years as part of universal immunization A working group has been formed. Program (UIP).
Under UIP, vaccines against selected diseases are provided free of cost to all children and, in some cases, pregnant women of specified ages in government hospitals.
Senior officials in the Union health ministry told ThePrint that a working group under the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) has been tasked with conducting a risk-benefit analysis of introducing the vaccine to infants in the country. However, the group is yet to zero in on the vaccine being considered for India.
A senior ministry official said, “The working group will examine how dangerous the disease is, how common it is, whether anything can be done about it and the financial aspects related to introducing a vaccine once it is available.” Will investigate.” wished not to be named, said.
“RSV-induced pneumonia in children has emerged as a major public health challenge due to viral disease,” he added.
According to the World Health Organization, human RSV is a highly prevalent global cause of lower respiratory tract infection in all age groups.
Dr SK Nakra, Director, Department of Pediatrics, Madhukar Rainbow Children’s Hospital in Delhi, said that RSV is a highly contagious virus that can cause mild to severe respiratory illness in people of all ages, but it is more common in infants, young children and older people. Most dangerous for adults. with a weakened immune system.
Infants younger than 6 months of age, premature infants, and people with other medical conditions can develop severe RSV infection or bronchiolitis and have trouble breathing, requiring hospitalization.
Recurrent upper respiratory tract infections are common in older children and adults without co-morbidities and range from sub-clinical infection to symptomatic upper respiratory tract disease.
In addition to the pediatric burden of disease, RSV is increasingly being recognized as an important pathogen in older adults, with increased rates of hospitalizations, and deaths among those aged 65 years and older due to infection. The mortality rate among the frail elderly has increased with the rate. Rates similar to influenza vaccine, WHO says.
The risk of severe disease in adults is increased by the presence of underlying chronic pulmonary disease, circulatory conditions and functional impairment, and is associated with higher viral load.
RSV detection rates in India range from 2.1 to 62.4 percent in different studies in young children (0-5 years), which is higher than in other age groups.
In India, RSV usually peaks in the post-monsoon to early winter period, which is between the months of June to October. However, smaller increases have also been observed during December, January and February.
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rsv vaccines
As reported in the media, last week, UK-based pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a drug for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by respiratory syncytial virus. Arexvi is approved for RSV) in persons 60 years of age and older. It is the first RSV vaccine to be approved anywhere in the world.
Speaking to ThePrint, a GSK spokesperson in India said the FDA approval is currently for global use.
“Later, if there is any local development (related to India), we will reach out and let you know,” the spokesperson said.
Another vaccine by US pharma giant Pfizer for pregnant women is in advanced stages of development and is expected to get USFDA approval this year.
Kalra said this vaccine, when administered to mothers during pregnancy, would protect the infant from RSV infection through maternal antibodies.
AstraZeneca is developing another live-attenuated vaccine against the respiratory disease, while Moderna is working on an mRNA-based vaccine against the disease.
“If these vaccines are found to be safe and effective, they will reduce the burden of disease in the high-risk age group of infants and children under 5 years of age,” Kalra said.
(Editing by Zinnia Ray Chowdhury)
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