The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that all infants under 8 months and some older babies get vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The recommendation follows the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of nirsevimab-alip (Beyfortus), the first vaccine to treat RSV in infants and toddlers.

The CDC also recommends nirsevimab-alip vaccinations for infants between 8 and 19 months who are at severe risk for RSV and are entering their second RSV season this fall.

RSV is a common childhood respiratory virus that impacts up to 80,000 children in the United States annually, according to the CDC. Up to 3% of children under 12 months are hospitalized each year due to RSV, according to the FDA. Before nirsevimab-alip’s August approval, RSV prevention relied on good hand hygiene, frequent cleaning of surfaces, and social distancing if experiencing symptoms—and treatment was limited to a monoclonal antibody intervention.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Recommends RSV Vaccine For Older Adults. June 29, 2023.

Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves New Drug to Prevent RSV in Babies and Toddlers. July 17, 2023.

Battles MB, McLellan JS. Respiratory syncytial virus entry and how to block IT. Nature Reviews Microbiology. 2019;17(4):233-245. doi:10.1038/s41579-019-0149-x

  

 

In addition to approving nirsevimab-alip, the CDC has approved new RSV vaccines for older adults manufactured by GSK and Pfizer. 

 

Importance of new innovations

 

In recent years, the US has experienced an increase in respiratory viruses, including RSV, influenza, and COVID-19, says Ilan Shapiro, MD, FAAP, Chief Health Correspondent and Medical Affairs Officer for AltaMed Health Services in Los Angeles. Dr. Shapiro says “things can change” with the new FDA approval and CDC recommendation. 

“We know vaccines can protect children from severe infection,” Dr. Shapiro adds. “The approval of the RSV shot can reduce complications and hospitalizations of children.” 

According to one study, nirsevimab-alip shot has a 79% safety and efficacy against severe RSV.

Muller WJ, Madhi SA, Seoane Nuñez B, et al. Nirsevimab for prevention of RSV in term and late-preterm infants. New England Journal of Medicine. 2023;388(16):1533-1534. doi:10.1056/nejmc2214773

 

 

Importance of early RSV vaccinations

 

When it comes to helping patients schedule appointments, Dr. Shapiro stresses the importance of early vaccinations.

Young children with chronic heart problems can also be especially vulnerable to the virus and should be vaccinated, he says.

 

Addressing vaccine hesitancy for RSV

 

Despite the importance of vaccinations, don’t be surprised if parents aren't running to have their infant vaccinated right away. Vaccine hesitancy existed before the COVID-19 pandemic and hasn’t gone away.

Dr. Shapiro says he is worried about vaccine hesitancy’s impact on the public and is taking steps to address it in his community.

“I'm worried about the fear that parents may have about this antibody shot and that the fear might lead to inaction,” Dr. Shapiro adds. “When parents don't make the choice to protect their child with the new antibody shot, it opens the door for RSV to infect their children.”

“As physicians, we are providing a service to our patients,” Dr. Shapiro says. “Sometimes the patients ask questions, or have other ideas, and that's OK. Healthcare providers need to start the conversation and give patients the best information available. Most importantly, it's OK for parents to have feelings and thoughts regarding vaccinations.”

After listening to these thoughts and feelings, it’s important for providers to give sound information about the vaccine and clearly explain why it is suggested: to protect against the real threat of RSV.

“As a physician, I want to start conversations with my patients and their families about the importance of the vaccine—how and why it was created and what it can do to reduce hospitalizations—and focus on the growth and development of their children,” he says.