A new vaccine from Pfizer that aims to protect babies from a potentially deadly respiratory virus could have a hidden danger: it might increase the chance of premature birth.
That’s the warning from some experts who want more rigorous scrutiny of the vaccine, which targets respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common winter bug that can cause severe illness in infants.
The vaccine is designed to be given to women in their third trimester of pregnancy, to pass on antibodies to their unborn babies. It is not yet approved, but it could get the green light from regulators in the US and UK later this year.
However, another vaccine maker, GlaxoSmithKline, stopped its own trial of a similar vaccine in February, after finding a higher risk of premature birth among vaccinated women.
Pfizer did not report any safety concerns in its own trial, which involved more than 4,000 women. But some experts say that the data need to be re-examined with more sensitive methods.
RSV is a very common virus that usually causes mild symptoms like a cold. But it can be fatal in young children, especially in low and middle income countries.
In 2019, RSV was responsible for 3.6 per cent of all deaths in children aged one to six months worldwide, with 97 per cent of these deaths occurring in poorer countries.
Pfizer said its vaccine was effective against severe RSV that required medical attention in children. It also said there were no significant differences in premature births between vaccinated and unvaccinated women.
But experts say that more research is needed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine before it is rolled out to pregnant women.
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