Kevin Ault, MD, on coordinating RSV prevention across maternal and pediatric care

Coordination between obstetric and pediatric care providers is particularly important for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prevention when maternal vaccination and infant monoclonal antibody options are available, according to Kevin Ault, MD, FACOG, co-author of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ (ACOG) 2026-27 respiratory virus immunization guidance. The discussion continues Ault's remarks on the updated recommendations, detailed in Contemporary OB/GYN's coverage of the guidance.

“All 4 of the vaccines that are on ACOG's recommendations have direct newborn benefit. Two of them are newer. The COVID vaccine and RSV recommendations are newer, just the past few years, whereas influenza vaccine, we've been recommending for several decades, and we've known that it's beneficial for the newborn for at least 20 years and the pertussis recommendation is about 15 years old. But all 4 of those are good,” he said.

Coordinating RSV prevention

Ault identified RSV prevention as an area where communication between obstetric and pediatric clinicians is particularly important because maternal immunization affects whether an infant needs monoclonal antibody protection.

“I think one of the problems or one of the nuances that we've introduced the past few years is the coordination around RSV. I think if you look at the data, and I'm sure this varies from community to community, monoclonal antibodies in the pediatrician's office within the first few days of life, are the most common ways for us to prevent RSV,” he said. “Based on our current guidelines, you don't need to give the monoclonal antibodies if there's maternal immunization. So there really needs to be coordination of care between the [obstetric] care providers and the pediatric care providers, especially [during] that transition [in] the first few days of life.”

Extending the vaccination conversation

Ault said vaccine discussions during pregnancy can also help establish continuity between maternal and pediatric care.

“I think one of the things that you see in research study, and my personal experience would be this too: that if you start talking about those vaccines during pregnancy, that makes the conversations a little easier for our colleagues in pediatrics and family medicine with those newborns.”

Per the guidance, the 2026-27 recommendations cover influenza, COVID-19, RSV, and Tdap, with maternal immunization providing newborn protection through antibody transfer.

Reference:

1. Fitch J. ACOG's 2026-27 respiratory virus immunization recommendations in pregnancy, postpartum. Contemporary OB/GYN. Published September 2, 2026. Accessed September 9, 2026. https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/acog-2026-27-respiratory-virus-immunization-recommendations-pregnancy