Published on Monday, April 20, 2026
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Social Security Fund (CCSS) has launched 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, known as syncytia, which are created when infected cells fuse together.

Health authorities say RSV is a leading cause of hospitalization for respiratory illness in infants. Reinfections can occur later in life, although they are typically less severe.

 

In Costa Rica, RSV infections tend to rise during the rainy season, which generally runs from late May through November.

Among children, RSV usually causes mild, self-limiting symptoms similar to those of upper respiratory infections, including nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, and low-grade fever.

Physical exams may show inflammation of the nasal passages (rhinitis), throat (pharyngitis) and eyes (conjunctivitis). However, some cases can develop into more serious lower respiratory illnesses, such as bronchiolitis, viral pneumonia or croup.

The CCSS campaign is part of a broader public health strategy to vaccinate 50,000 pregnant women 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 Costa Rican nationals and foreign residents, at public hospitals or their local community health clinics, known as Ebais.

The RSV campaign is one of several ongoing public health efforts by the CCSS. Authorities recently also launched a yellow fever vaccination campaign aimed at residents and tourists traveling to Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and certain countries in Africa.

The CCSS is the state-run agency responsible for Costa Rica’s public health system.

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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