A group of researchers led by a University of Florida Health scientist is recommending universal immunization of pregnant women and infants against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) following a yearslong study of the impact of hospitalizing children with the illness, UF Health said on Wednesday.

According to the department, Nirma Khatri Vadlamudi, Ph.D., M.P.H., with the help of Canada-based researchers who aim to reduce the global burden of RSV cases, found that no matter where an infant is in the world, the virus can be a major cause of lung infection and pneumonia in infants.

UF Health says the research also found that infants under 6 months accounted for nearly half (45%) of RSV-related hospitalizations between 2017 and 2023, which translates to about a $23 million cost on the U.S. h

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