The newest tool for protecting our littlest population is now available in the United States.
The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine was initially approved in summer 2023 for adults 60 and older, quickly followed by a recommendation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pregnant women. The goal of vaccinating pregnant women would be to pass on RSV antibodies from mom to baby.
"(Pregnant women should get the vaccine) somewhere between 32-36 weeks of pregnancy. As long as they receive the vaccine and give birth two weeks after or more after getting the vaccine, the baby should be having good protection for their first year of life,” says Kinnera Are, MD, a pediatrician with OSF HealthCare.
When is RSV season?
Dr. Are says RSV season normally starts in October, goes through the winter, and wraps up in March or April.
"We are expecting to see it this year, but hopefully not as bad as it has been the last couple of years,” Dr. Are adds.
What babies are eligible?
Infants eight months and younger are eligible for the RSV vaccine, along with older infants who have serious medical conditions like chronic lung disease and heart conditions.
"Some infants at higher risk are eligible to get the vaccine for their second RSV season. So, the second year October through March. Some things that would put them at higher risk if infants have chronic lung disease and prematurity and needed oxygen or medications within the last six months. Otherwise, we can offer it during that second season to infants from American Indian heritage or Alaskan Native heritage,” Dr. Area says. “Severely immunocompromised infants are eligible for that second season, and infants with cystic fibrosis who have issues with their lungs. Or if they're very small and are having issues with growth, they may also be eligible."
How to protect infants and others from RSV
Ways to protect infants from RSV are on par with other respiratory illnesses.
- Stay away from sick individuals
- Keep kids home if sick (fever, runny nose)
- Prioritize good sleep
- Focus on good eating habits, hydration
- Wash your hands
"RSV will show symptoms like most other respiratory illnesses. So, you may start off with congestion and runny nose, maybe a fever or a cough," Dr. Are says. “RSV, especially in the infant age group, tends to affect the lungs a little bit more than older kids. So, you may see more of that cough or congestion that's not coming out.”
Days 3-5 are usually the worst
"Any respiratory illness, but especially RSV, is worse between days three and five. Based on where the infant is when they come in, we'll guide them to see if they're getting better or do we expect it to get worse before it gets better,” Dr. Are says.
When it’s time to go to the emergency department
“Two things that would make me tell someone they need to go to the emergency room; One, if the infant is having respiratory distress like breathing really fast, having trouble breathing or having a lot of wheezing that is not getting better and it's very persistent," Dr. Are says. “You can give us a call (at the pediatrics office) but we'll probably recommend you go to the emergency room. The other thing is dehydration. Severe hydration can be shown in no wet diapers for eight hours and no urine output for eight hours. That's a sign they probably need some IV fluids and need to go to the emergency room for care.”
If a pregnant mother didn’t get the RSV vaccine, your child’s pediatrician will ask if they want the baby to get the vaccine in the first few visits.
Normally, symptoms can be managed at home. Antibiotics aren’t prescribed, since RSV is a virus, but sometimes the virus can cause a secondary bacterial infection like pneumonia, which could call for antibiotics. You can use a nasal suction tool to keep the baby’s nose and airways clean, which is especially important when they’re eating or sleeping.
