Mandy Moore shields newborn from RSV after sons' scary battles

Singer and actress Mandy Moore has taken steps to protect her newborn daughter from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The decision comes after her two sons, August 'Gus' Harrison and Oscar 'Ozzy' Bennett, both contracted RSV in 2023. Now, she is working with Sanofi to raise awareness about prevention options like monoclonal antibodies, which can cut hospitalisation rates by over 70 percent.

RSV poses a serious risk to young children, causing millions of hospitalisations and thousands of deaths each year. Moore's campaign highlights treatments like Beyfortus, which can significantly reduce the risk of severe RSV in infants. The virus can be severe, sometimes leading to life-threatening breathing difficulties in infants. Globally, RSV causes around 3.6 million hospitalisations and 100,000 deaths annually in children under five.

To guard against the virus, Moore chose Beyfortus, a monoclonal antibody treatment. Another option is for pregnant women to receive an RSV vaccine, passing protection to the baby. For infants, treatments like nirsevimab (Beyfortus) or clesrovimab (Enflonsia) offer direct defence.

Moore is now partnering with Sanofi on their Beyfortus awareness campaign. The effort aims to inform parents about RSV risks and the available preventive measures. Moore's daughter received Beyfortus shortly after birth, which along with wider awareness campaigns, could help reduce severe RSV cases in infants. With hospitalisation rates potentially dropping by over 70 percent, such measures provide critical protection during peak RSV seasons.