The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently released a policy statement on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Recommendations for the Prevention of RSV Disease in Infants and Children. This statement features two main sections: Recommended Populations and Approved Products. Below, we have an overview for each section as well as recommendation highlights.

Click here to view the full text version of the AAP policy statement. 

Key Elements of the AAP's 2025 RSV Policy Statement:

Population Recommendations Overview:

For infants <8 months of age born during or entering their first RSV season, the AAP recommends RSV immunization:

  • if the mother did no receive RSVpreF vaccine while pregnant
  • if the mother’s RSVpreF vaccination status is unknown
  • if the infant was born less than two weeks after the mother’s RSVpreF vaccination

Infants and children 8 through 19 months of age at high risk of severe RSV disease and entering their second RSV season, regardless of RSV vaccination status of the mother, or the child’s prior receipt of nirsevimab or clesrovimab when <8 months of age in their initial RSV season.

In this instance, “high risk” is defined as children with chronic lung disease or prematurity who required medical support at any time during the six months before their first RSV season; children with severe immunocompromise; children with cystic fibrosis who have either manifestations of severe lung disease or weight-for-length that is less than the 10th percentile. The AAP also includes American Indian and Alaska Native Children as “high risk” as outlined in the Equity Considerations section.

Approved Products Overview:

  • The AAP recommends any licensed RSV immunization product appropriate for age and health status and does not prefer one product over another. 
  • High-risk children 8-19 months old should receive RSV immunization in their second RSV season (October through the end of March, in the continental United States).
  • Infants should receive RSV immunization within one week of being born, if born during RSV season.
  • Infants with prolonged hospitalizations due to prematurity or other causes should receive RSV immunization just before or after discharge, if discharged during RSV season.
  • Infants younger than 8 months who were born outside RSV season should receive RSV immunization right before or during RSV season.
  • Simultaneous administration of RSV immunization with age-appropriate vaccines is recommended. 
  • If the mother received RSVpreF vaccine during pregnancy and two weeks or more before birth, most infants younger than 8 do not need immunization. In rare circumstances this recommendation may vary.
  • Palivizumab is no longer routinely recommended for use, as it will be discontinued in December of 2025.

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