RSV and Nirsevimab
At Skagit Pediatrics, we are looking forward to providing Nirsevimab (a monoclonal antibody injection) as a safe and effective tool to protect infants from serious illness and hospitalizations from RSV.
During the RSV season, we encourage our families to get Nirsevimab for their infants who are less than 8 months of age. We also encourage Nirsevimab for children with high risk of severe illness in their second RSV season.
We are currently waiting for the arrival of our supply of Nirsevimab.
Please call our office at 360-428-2622 to place your child’s name on our wait list and we will call when Nirsevimab is available.
We are planning to offer Nirsevimab to patients at our nurse immunization clinic appointments, but we are also likely able to offer it when your child is here for their scheduled check-up.
What is RSV ?
Almost all children get respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) at least once before they are 2 years old. For most healthy children, RSV is like a cold. But some children get very sick with RSV.
RSV infection is the leading cause of hospitalization among U.S. infants.
Infants with RSV infection frequently develop bronchiolitis, a lower respiratory tract infection, that can be severe and result in hospitalization.
Approximately 50,000–80,000 RSV-associated hospitalizations and 100–300 RSV-associated deaths occur annually among U.S. infants and children aged <5 years.
What is Nirsevimab?
Nirsevimab is an injection but it works a little differently than a vaccine. It provides antibodies that start working to protect babies right away. The protection lasts for the duration of a typical RSV season.
Nirsevimab has been shown to reduce the risk of both RSV-related hospitalizations and health care visits in infants by about 80%.
Links for further information on RSV and Nirsevimab:
Nirsevimab Immunization Information Statement - https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/immunization-information-statement.html
Information from HealthyChildren.org - https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/RSV-When-Its-More-Than-Just-a-Cold.aspx
Information from the CDC - https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/child.html
Information from the Washington Dept of Health - https://doh.wa.gov/you-and-your-family/immunization/diseases-and-vaccines/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv