[elfsight_social_share_buttons id=”1″]

The FDA approved a new shot Monday that protects infants under the age of 2 from RSV.

The respiratory syncytial virus is the leading cause of hospitalization among babies in the U.S., killing nearly 100 annually. But pharmaceutical companies have now developed the vaccine, known as Beyfortus, to end that concern.

The FDA approved it without noting any safety concerns. That makes the drug the first to be approved for broad administration to healthy babies.

This isn’t a traditional vaccine. It injects antibodies directly into the bloodstream rather than making the body fight off a weakened form of the virus. This makes it a temporary shield that must be given annually.

The CDC is expected to set guidelines for the drug next month.