The Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) of Mexico has approved the commercialization of a vaccine with 94% efficacy against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a contagious disease responsible for 33,000 deaths annually in industrialized countries.
Pharmaceutical company GSK reported that the vaccine demonstrated an efficacy of 94.6% in preventing lower respiratory tract disease in adults aged 60 years and older, or those with underlying medical conditions that increase the risk of serious illness from RSV, such as COPD, asthma, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease.
This vaccine was the first to be approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is currently used for active immunization against lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in older adults.
“This vaccine is a watershed moment, as research has been ongoing for over 60 years to find a preventive solution against RSV. This represents hope for older adults and those with underlying medical conditions,” explained Dr. Sigfrido Rangel, medical director of GSK Mexico.
According to Cofepris, an analysis published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that the vaccine has an efficacy of 82.6% against lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV and over 94% efficacy against severe LRTD in elderly people with underlying comorbidities.
Mexico is one of 17 countries worldwide, and the only one in Latin America, that participated in this trial. This will allow Mexican doctors to have an option to prevent RSV through vaccination and reduce deaths from this disease, according to Rangel.
Source: Aristegui Noticias
