National Minority Quality Forum Launched RSV Campaign

The Protect From Day One initiative aims to help expecting parents prevent RSV infections in young children.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Babies

Bold vector editorial illustration showing a soft knitted baby blanket on a wooden cradle, representing infant care and health preparedness. — The National Minority Quality Forum launched the Protect From Day One initiative, a national campaign providing education and prevention resources to help expecting parents protect infants from RSV. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you feel prepared to discuss RSV prevention options with your pediatrician before your baby arrives?

The National Minority Quality Forum has launched a national education campaign to address rising RSV emergency department visits. The initiative focuses on helping parents create protection plans for infants before birth.

Why it matters

Rising emergency room encounters among children under age 2 and significant racial disparities in ICU admissions prompted the campaign. It provides tools to help families better understand prevention strategies.

RSV-associated ICU admission rates among non-Hispanic Black infants under 6 months are 1.2 to 1.6 times higher than among non-Hispanic White infants. Approximately 58,000 to 80,000 children under age 5 are hospitalized due to RSV annually.

The players

National Minority Quality Forum

The National Minority Quality Forum is an organization dedicated to reducing health disparities and improving the health of minority populations.

Keke Palmer

Keke Palmer is an American actress, singer, and television personality who is collaborating with the campaign to raise awareness.

The details

The campaign offers families an RSV protection plan, a provider conversation checklist, and a prevention explainer. Information is delivered through a network of clinicians, community voices, and maternal health partners.

January 2017: RSV emergency department encounters for children under 2 stood at 31.2%.
January 2026: RSV emergency department encounters for children under 2 rose to 47.6%.
October 1, 2026: The National Minority Quality Forum announced the campaign launch.
October 8, 2026: The campaign will release an exclusive interview with Keke Palmer.
October through March: RSV cases typically see an increase during this season.

Culture Shift

The campaign reflects a broader movement toward proactive, prenatal health planning rather than waiting for reactive medical treatment. It aligns with the CDC RSV seasonal surge tracking to shift community behavior during high-risk months.

Parents can utilize the official RSV protection plan and provider checklist to prepare for the upcoming high-risk season. These tools are designed to facilitate informed conversations with healthcare providers during prenatal visits.

The takeaway

Understanding RSV prevention before a child is born can help families reduce the risk of serious illness. Parents are encouraged to discuss these protection plans with their pediatricians during the high-risk months of October through March.