A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee on Friday recommended pregnant people get Pfizer Inc.’s
PFE,
maternal vaccine to protect babies from respiratory syncytial virus. RSV affects the lungs and breathing passages and is a leading cause of hospitalization among U.S. babies. In an 11-to-1 vote, the CDC advisors recommended that the shot be seasonally administered to pregnant people at 32 through 36 weeks’ gestation. The Pfizer shot, Abrysvo, last month became the first maternal RSV vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The CDC has previously recommended nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody jointly developed by AstraZeneca PLC
AZN,
and Sanofi
SNY,
for all infants younger than 8 months born during or entering their first RSV season. The CDC advisors said Friday that either maternal vaccination or use of the monoclonal antibody is recommended but both products are not needed. Pfizer shares are down 0.5% Friday and have dropped 36% in the year to date, while the S&P 500
SPX,
has gained 12.7%.
