September 17, 2026 (Washington, DC) — The Alliance for Women’s Health & Prevention (AWHP) today released a new white paper, Creating a Catalyst for Action Around Infant RSV Immunization, outlining persistent barriers to infant respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunization and practical steps to help families access timely protection.
RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants in the United States. While new prevention options, including maternal vaccination during pregnancy and infant immunization with long-acting monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), offer significant opportunities to reduce severe disease, gaps in awareness, access, reimbursement, and care coordination continue to leave many eligible infants unprotected.
“We have more tools than ever before to protect babies from severe RSV disease, but those tools only work when families can access them,” said Millicent Gorham, PhD (Hon), MBA, FAAN, CEO of the Alliance for Women’s Health & Prevention. “We need to ensure our healthcare system is equipped to deliver timely protection and that families have clear, trusted information to make informed decisions about their child’s health.”
CDC survey data cited in the white paper show that infant RSV protection increased from 57.0% during the 2024-25 season to 65.1% during the 2025-26 season through maternal vaccination or infant mAb immunization. Despite this progress, significant gaps remain.
The white paper identifies barriers including limited awareness among families, confusion about the timing of RSV protection, fragmented coordination between prenatal, hospital and pediatric care, and reimbursement challenges that can make it difficult for hospitals to consistently provide RSV mAbs before newborns are discharged.
“No newborn should leave the hospital vulnerable to severe RSV disease given that we have effective prevention options available,” said Michelle Fiscus, MD, FAAP, Chief Medical Officer of the Association of Immunization Managers. “We have the tools to protect babies, but tools alone do not save lives. Policymakers, payers, hospitals, clinicians, and families must each do their part to turn prevention into protection for every infant.”
To address these challenges, AWHP calls for coordinated action to:
- Improve payment and reimbursement pathways so hospitals and clinicians can sustainably provide RSV mAbs.
- Expand participation in the Vaccines for Children program among birthing hospitals to improve access for underserved families.
- Strengthen coordination across care settings to reduce missed opportunities for infant protection.
- Improve RSV immunization data and tracking to better identify coverage gaps and disparities.
- Expand clinician and family education to reinforce RSV prevention as a priority throughout the full RSV season.
“Public policy can help ensure parents learn about RSV prevention before their baby is at risk,” said Natasha Hansen, MPH, Government Affairs Lead at Vaccinate Your Family. “Lawmakers should advance education efforts that begin during pregnancy, continue through hospital discharge, and connect families with programs that make prevention accessible in every community.”
The white paper was developed with input from leaders across the healthcare continuum, including representatives from the Association of Immunization Managers, Vaccinate Your Family, National Rural Health Association, National Coalition for Infant Health, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, March of Dimes, and National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.
Creating a Catalyst for Action Around Infant RSV Immunization reinforces AWHP’s commitment to advancing evidence-based preventive healthcare and ensuring women and families have equitable access to the information, resources, and care they need to live healthier lives.
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About AWHP
The Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention is a non-partisan 501(c)(4) non-profit organization working to ensure that all women and girls have access to high-quality preventive care. Our mission is to advance policy that drives equitable access and prevents the burden and progression of disease to improve the lives and health of all women and girls. For more information, please visit WomensHealthandPrevention.org and follow us on LinkedIn and X @AWHPOrg.