Starting January 12, the Ministry of Health in Jujuy will begin a vaccination campaign against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) aimed at pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks and six days of gestation.
The vaccine was added to Argentina’s National Immunization Schedule in 2023. It is mandatory and free, available at all vaccination centers across the province. No medical order is required, and it applies to pregnant individuals receiving care in both public and private health systems.
According to the Ministry of Health, “the objective is to protect both the pregnant person and newborns from the first day of life, ensuring longer coverage time to prevent and anticipate virus circulation during the upcoming winter season.”
RSV is identified as the main cause of lower acute respiratory infections in children under one year old worldwide. It accounts for about one third of deaths during an infant’s first year, with this figure rising up to 97% in developing countries.
In accordance with national health policies based on epidemiological data, and following Jujuy’s provincial health plan focused on disease prevention, the province reached a 90% coverage rate among its target population for this campaign in 2025. This meant that nearly all newborns received adequate protection from birth through their first six months.
The ministry noted that this achievement also allowed better use of healthcare resources by reducing hospitalizations, pediatric intensive care admissions, outpatient visits, and emergency room cases.
Other vaccines recommended during pregnancy include: influenza (one dose at any stage), COVID-19 (one dose at any stage), acellular pertussis-containing vaccine (one dose per pregnancy after week 20), and RSV (one dose per pregnancy between weeks 32 and 36 plus six days).
