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Expecting a baby? The RSV shot now starts at week 28

Panama's Health Ministry (Minsa) has moved RSV vaccination for pregnant women earlier, to week 28 of pregnancy, because cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and whooping cough are rising, especially in babies under one. The decision came from the National Advisory Commission on Immunization Practices, Minsa adviser Itzel Slocum de Hewit said. The aim is for the mother's antibodies to protect the baby from birth, before the child can be vaccinated (Minsa, Telemetro, Infobae).

What changes

  • Pregnant women can now receive the RSV vaccine from week 28 of gestation.
  • At the same prenatal visit they can also get Tdap, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (pertussis).
  • Minsa wants a "circle of protection" around newborns: parents, caregivers and both sets of grandparents should be up to date on their whooping-cough vaccination because of their close contact with the baby.
  • The vaccines are free at Minsa health facilities and at the Social Security Fund (CSS) (Minsa).
  • Minsa says it has enough Tdap for pregnant women, teenagers and adults who need it, and more than 100,000 RSV doses for people who meet its criteria, including adults over 60 and people with certain risk conditions (Minsa).

Why now

Minsa's epidemiology department reported in early September that RSV incidence had tripled in ten weeks, from 5 cases per 100,000 people in epidemiological week 23 to 15.6 in week 33 (August), and that by then Panama had recorded 19 RSV-related deaths. Ten were babies under one year old, five were one-year-olds, two were children aged three to five and two were adults aged 65 or older.

Vaccination Week, 19 to 25 October

Minsa will hold its Vaccination and Vaccine Update Week from 19 to 25 October, marking World Polio Day on 24 October. It will also promote the hexavalent vaccine for young children, which covers diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Minsa).

What it means for expats

If you are pregnant and see a private obstetrician, ask about RSV and Tdap timing at your next visit; if you prefer the public route, Minsa says both are free at its centres and at CSS facilities. Minsa did not say whether that covers foreign residents without CSS insurance or visitors, so ask your health centre before you go. If you are flying in to meet a new grandchild, or will be helping with a newborn, check when you last had a whooping-cough booster and catch up before the birth, either at home or at a Minsa centre in Panama. Retirees over 60 should ask their health centre whether they meet Minsa's criteria for the RSV vaccine. Take your vaccination card or records with you, and use Vaccination Week from 19 to 25 October to update the whole family.

This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or health centre.

Sources

  • Minsa - RSV vaccination in pregnancy moved to week 28; Tdap at the same visit; grandparents and caregivers; free at Minsa and CSS; enough Tdap and 100,000+ RSV doses incl. adults over 60 meeting criteria; Vaccination Week 19 to 25 Oct; hexavalent - Oct 2026 - https://www.minsa.gob.pa/noticia/minsa-adelanta-las-28-semanas-de-embarazo-la-vacunacion-contra-el-vsr-ante-aumento-de-casos
  • Telemetro - RSV and whooping-cough vaccines in pregnancy from week 28; free at Minsa and CSS; dose stocks; Vaccination Week - 5 Oct 2026 (16:24 Panama) - https://www.telemetro.com/nacionales/vacuna-contra-el-virus-sincitial-respiratorio-embarazadas-se-aplicara-las-28-semanas-n6094129
  • Telemetro - Itzel Slocum de Hewit on the circle of protection around newborns - 6 Oct 2026 (11:12 Panama) - https://www.telemetro.com/nacionales/minsa-adelanta-vacunacion-embarazadas-proteger-los-bebes-contra-vsr-y-tosferina-n6094207
  • Infobae - Advisory commission decision; restates Minsa incidence and death figures - 7 Oct 2026 - https://www.infobae.com/panama/2026/10/07/ante-el-aumento-de-casos-de-tosferina-y-virus-sincitial-el-ministerio-de-salud-adelanta-a-28-semanas-la-vacunacion-de-las-embarazadas-en-panama/
  • Minsa - RSV incidence 5 to 15.6 per 100,000 (SE23 to SE33); 19 RSV-associated deaths by age group (Dr. Yadira de Moltó, Epidemiology) - 2 Sep 2026 - https://www.minsa.gob.pa/noticia/minsa-alerta-por-aumento-del-virus-sincitial-respiratorio-vsr-incidencia-se-triplica-desde