Published on Thursday, May 29, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Social Security Fund (CCSS) has announced the launch of a nationwide vaccination campaign against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) targeting pregnant women.

RSV is a common virus that infects the respiratory tract. Its name comes from the formation of large cells, or syncytia, created when infected cells fuse together.

According to health authorities, RSV is a leading cause of hospitalization due to respiratory illness in infants. Reinfections may occur later in life, though they are typically less severe.

In Costa Rica, RSV infections tend to surge during the rainy season, which lasts from May through November.

Among children, RSV typically causes mild, self-limiting symptoms consistent with upper respiratory tract infections, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, and low-grade fever. Physical examinations may reveal inflammation of the nasal passages (rhinitis), throat (pharyngitis), and eyes (conjunctivitis). However, some cases may progress to more serious lower respiratory illnesses, including bronchiolitis, viral pneumonia, or croup.

The CCSS campaign is part of a broader public health prevention strategy. The first phase will begin Monday, June 2, and aims to vaccinate 50,000 pregnant women who are between 32 and 36.6 weeks of gestation.

“The goal of this public health campaign is to ensure that babies are born with strengthened defenses against a virus that poses a significant threat in the first months of life,” the CCSS said in a statement.

The vaccine will be available free of charge to all eligible pregnant women, including both Costa Rican nationals and foreign residents, at their local community health clinic, known as an Ebais.

This RSV campaign is one of several ongoing public health efforts by the CCSS. Costa Rica is developing its annual influenza vaccination campaign, which aims to immunize approximately 1.5 million people this year.

CCSS is the state-run organization responsible for the country's public health sector.

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What have you heard from pregnant women seeking the RSV vaccine? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com