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> RSV immunity debt

What is this exactly supposed to mean?

There is no vaccination for RSV where I live so the only way to get it is via child care or other contacts with toddlers.

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To quote this article, "extended periods of low exposure to a particular pathogen."

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4...

As I understand it, just being out and about in the world gives an immune system (whether a baby or its family members indirectly) some practice.

But the child gets it eventually. Is RSV substantially worse to get at 3 vs 2?

Should we be coughing on children? Lots of kids in countries with more ventilation have fewer respiratory pathogens and seem to do fine.

I'm not sure about fine. Probably just undiagnosed? According to this, RSV kills 100k babies and kids between 0-5 per year. 97% of them are in low and middle income countries.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6...

Well, this paper suggests I’m wrong and that lower and middle income countries get more infections and more death.

So….why again would avoiding infections be bad? The added infections appear to increase deaths.

The article mentions that mothers give toddlers antibodies from exposure to viruses during pregnancy.

I do not understand the term "immunity debt". What is this?

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