In today’s world, where information is constantly flowing, making informed decisions about your child’s health can be overwhelming. That’s why it’s so important to have the latest recommendations to avoid the worst respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants.
This year marks the first time there are ways to protect all babies from severe RSV, the leading cause of infant hospitalizations in the United States. This includes an RSV vaccine for expectant women during pregnancy and an RSV antibody for your baby that can be given after birth.
RSV accounts for the hospitalizations of 58,000 to 80,000 US children under 5 years of age annually. Last year, RSV affected many across the country. Hospitals are crowded with babies and young children suffering from the virus.
The RSV vaccine and preventive antibody provide an opportunity to prevent hospitalizations such as we experienced in 2022.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all infants get protection from one of the new RSV vaccines; however, both are unnecessary for most babies.
As the vaccine and preventive antibody become more widely available in pharmacies and doctor’s offices, here’s what all current and expectant parents need to know to make informed choices that will protect babies from severe RSV in coming autumn and winter.
RSV vaccine recommendations during pregnancy
CDC recommends an RSV vaccine during pregnancy, approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2023, to prevent severe RSV in infants.
Here’s what to know about getting the RSV vaccine during pregnancy:
- One dose of RSV vaccine is recommended between weeks 32 and 36 of pregnancy.
- This vaccine is available from September to January in most of the US, but in locations where the RSV season may be different (some territories, Hawaii and Alaska), the timing may vary.
- If weeks 32 to 36 of your pregnancy did not reach this time, or you did not receive the RSV vaccine when you were pregnant, an RSV antibody is available for your baby after birth.
Note that most babies probably only need protection with the RSV vaccine given to their mothers during pregnancy or the RSV antibody given to the child after birth, but not both. Talk to your health care provider to determine the best options for you and your baby this RSV season.
RSV antibody recommendations for infants and young children
In addition to the new RSV vaccine recommendations for pregnancy, a new RSV antibody called nirsevimab (Beyfortus) is also available to protect infants and some toddlers from severe RSV infection.
If you received the RSV vaccine during pregnancy, it is likely that your baby needs protection from RSV antibody, although you can ask your practitioner to be sure.
Here’s what to know about the RSV antibody now available for babies and some young children:
- Infants less than 8 months of age who were born at term or are entering their first RSV season should receive one dose of nirsevimab if their mothers did not get an RSV vaccine.
- In rare situations when recommended by their health care providers, some babies may get a dose of nirsevimab even if their mothers received the RSV vaccine.
- For babies and toddlers ages 8 to 19 months who are on higher risk of RSV and entering their second RSV season, one dose is also recommended.
As RSV season approaches, it’s important to consider these recommendations and take proactive steps to protect babies from this common respiratory virus. The RSV season usually begins in the fall and peaks during the winter.
By taking advantage of these new RSV vaccinationswe can protect our babies from getting a serious case of the virus, which can lead to a hospital stay.
Remember, talk to your health care provider if you have questions about RSV or any of these new ways to protect your child from getting seriously ill with the virus.
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