Respiratory Virus Vaccine Uptake Among Pregnant Women Rising but Low

An increasing number of pregnant women in Singapore are receiving the vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to protect their newborns, though medical professionals indicate that current uptake levels are insufficient to reduce infant hospitalization rates.

The vaccine was approved for use in pregnant women in Singapore nearly two years prior to May 13, 2026. While more women are now opting for the vaccination, the impact on public health metrics remains limited.

Dr. Yang Linqi, a paediatrician at Thomson Paediatric Centre, noted that infant admissions related to RSV have not seen a significant decline.

So far, there has been no significant decrease in RSV-related infant admissions. The numbers remain steady and are similar to previous years,

Dr. Yang Linqi, paediatrician at Thomson Paediatric Centre

Dr. Yang observed that some infants have contracted RSV despite the fact that their mothers were vaccinated. However, he noted that these cases appear to be milder and have not required hospitalization.

RSV is a common respiratory virus characterized by symptoms including fever and cough. In infants, the virus can lead to severe illnesses such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis.

Despite the rise in women choosing the jab, the overall volume of vaccinated mothers is not yet high enough to shift the broader trend of infant hospitalizations.

Regarding the current state of vaccine adoption, Dr. Yang stated that At this stage, the number of mothers receiving the RSV vaccine is still too low to create a noticeable impact,.