Your baby’s protection begins before birth – a year of RSV vaccination at our centre
Dr. Marek Šois
Gynecologist specializing in fetal medicine
As autumn arrives and the respiratory virus season approaches, you may be thinking about how to protect your baby after birth. Vaccination during pregnancy is one option. We help you understand its benefits and possible risks and choose a vaccination time that suits your pregnancy.
We began offering RSV vaccination during pregnancy in the summer of 2025, following World Health Organization recommendations. We have now offered this service for over a year, and further research has provided more information about how vaccination protects babies. [1]
What did the past RSV season show?
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, often causes cold-like symptoms in adults. In babies, however, it can cause bronchiolitis or pneumonia and lead to hospital admission. Babies are particularly vulnerable during their first months of life. [1]
RSV also circulated in Estonia last season. According to the Estonian Health Board, 1,977 RSV cases had been recorded from the start of the season to 31 March 2026. Approximately two-thirds were in children aged nine or younger. These figures represent recorded cases, rather than all infections. [2]
How can vaccination help protect your baby?
After vaccination during pregnancy, protective antibodies pass from you to your baby through the placenta, helping to protect your baby during the first months of life. [1, 3]
In the Abrysvo clinical trial, the relative risk of severe RSV-related lower respiratory tract illness was reduced by approximately 82% during the first three months and 69% during the first six months of life. Vaccination does not prevent every infection, but it helps reduce the risk of severe illness. [3]
Real-world studies in Scotland and France also found that babies whose mothers had been vaccinated were less likely to need hospital care for RSV. Protection varied across studies. These findings suggest that our patients’ babies may also have benefited, although we have not separately assessed how many cases were prevented. [4, 5]
Why vaccinate the mother rather than the baby?
No RSV vaccine is currently available in the European Union for direct administration to infants. Vaccine development has encountered setbacks: in 2025, Sanofi discontinued one of its vaccine programs for young children after an interim analysis indicated insufficient efficacy. This involved a different vaccine candidate, not Abrysvo, which is used during pregnancy. [6, 7]
Babies can also be protected with an antibody medicine that provides ready-made protection. This is not a vaccine, and newer antibody medicines are also suitable for full-term babies. Their availability depends on national healthcare arrangements. Vaccination during pregnancy allows protection to begin before birth. [1, 7]
When should you consider vaccination?
Estonia’s 2026 guidance recommends RSV vaccination preferably between 28 and 34 weeks of pregnancy; the authorized window is 24–36 weeks. The seasonal recommendation applies to women whose third trimester falls between August and January. We choose a suitable time together with you, taking your due date and the course of your pregnancy into account. [8]
Whooping cough vaccination is also recommended during every pregnancy to help protect your baby during the first months of life. Whenever possible, we prefer to give the RSV and whooping cough vaccines at least two weeks apart. A lower immune response to the whooping cough components has been observed when the vaccines are given together, but its actual effect on the baby’s protection is unknown. [3, 8]
If arranging a separate visit could mean missing the appropriate time for either vaccine, the doctor will assess whether giving both at the same appointment is suitable. We explain the advantages and limitations of each option so you can make an informed choice after counseling. The RSV vaccine can also be given alongside an injectable flu vaccine that is safe during pregnancy. [3, 9]
What should you know about side effects?
Common side effects include pain at the injection site, headache, and muscle pain. In the Abrysvo clinical trial, the vaccine group had numerically more preterm births than the comparison group; this does not establish a causal link. Vaccine safety continues to be monitored. Before vaccination, we discuss the possible benefits and risks with you and assess whether the vaccine is suitable for you. [3]
Our team is trained to recognize post-vaccination reactions and provide initial treatment. We store vaccines under controlled conditions, document their administration, and record the details in your vaccination record and the national health information system.
After vaccination, you will stay with us for observation for at least 15 minutes, or longer if needed. We have emergency equipment available. Before you leave, we explain which reactions may occur later and when and where to seek help.
How can you arrange a visit?
Where appropriate, vaccination can be combined with your 3D ultrasound appointment at 28 weeks or a scan to assess your baby’s growth and wellbeing at 32 or 36 weeks. We discuss the plan early so vaccination isn't delayed while you wait for your next ultrasound appointment.
You can also book a separate vaccination appointment with midwife Jane Tisler, who has the relevant training and current qualifications to administer vaccines. The vaccination service fee includes the midwife appointment and vaccination counseling. You are welcome even if you receive your antenatal care elsewhere.
Your health and your baby’s health are at the heart of our work. Alongside ultrasound examinations, we help you understand prevention and treatment options and arrange further care when needed.
You do not need to arrive with a decision already made — you are welcome to come with questions.
View the RSV vaccination service and price
Sources and further reading
- World Health Organization. WHO position paper on immunization to protect infants against respiratory syncytial virus disease. 2025.
- Estonian Health Board. Respiratory virus surveillance report, as of 31 March 2026. 2026. In Estonian.
- European Medicines Agency. Abrysvo: Summary of Product Characteristics.
- Effectiveness of the maternal RSVpreF vaccine against severe disease in infants in Scotland, UK: a national, population-based case-control study and cohort analysis. 2025.
- EPI-PHARE. Maternal RSVpreF Immunisation Against Infant RSV Hospitalisation: Nationwide Population-Based Effectiveness and Durability Study. 2026.
- Sanofi. Q3 2025 results presentation. 24 October 2025.
- European Medicines Agency. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Beyfortus.
- Estonian Health Board. RSV vaccination guidance and Vaccination Handbook. 2026. In Estonian.
- Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Respiratory Disease Season & Maternal Immunization.
- Ramašauskaitė D, Savona-Ventura C, Minkauskienė M, Mahmood T. Respiratory syncytial virus vaccination in pregnancy – Position statement by the European Board and College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 2025;310:113978.