The CDC has approved a new vaccine, nirsevimab, for infants to ward off the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that sends tens of thousands of children to the hospital every year. LSU Health Science Center Assistant Professor, Doctor Cory Hebert says infants and older babies are at higher risk…
“Children younger than five years of age in the United States have about two million outpatient visits and that’s not hospitalization visits. And that’s a lot of visits. And it’s 58 to 80 thousand hospitalizations among children less than five.”
The new vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of both hospitalizations and healthcare visits for RSV in infants by 80 percent. RSV causes respiratory distress in infants. Hebert says the virus is transmissible and in worst cases, it can be fatal.
“And you get it if somebody sneezes or cough and you get those respiratory droplets from the sneeze into your eyes or your mouth. Or if you kiss the face of a little kid but only 100 to 300 deaths in children under five years of age.”
The new vaccine uses nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody product, that was approved last year by FDA. Hebert says this new immunization means there’s a life-saving product available to protect babies against RSV. He says one dose is recommended for the first season…
“Right now it’s one time and then you can get it and it should be effective for a year and now two year immunity will wane a bit.”
Nirsevimab is expected to be available this fall.
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