If it is between October 1 and March 31 and you have a baby under 8 months of age, please read below to see if you should call us to schedule an appointment for this injection to help prevent RSV infection in your child.
RSV is the most common reason for babies under 1 year of age to be admitted to the hospital. Every year there are about 2.1 million outpatient visits and 58,000-80,000 hospitalizations due to RSV for children under 5 in the US. Fortunately, a vaccine for pregnant women (Abrysvo) and an injection for babies (Beyfortus) were released last year to help prevent RSV infections in the youngest babies. We highly recommend this injection for any baby <8 months of age whose mother did not receive her RSV vaccine at least 2 weeks before the baby was born. It is given only during RSV season, from October 1 to March 31. It is also recommended for those 8-24 months with certain risk factors.
What is Beyfortus (nirsevimab)?
Beyforus is an antibody that is a passive immunization. The antibodies circulate in the baby’s bloodstream and protect the baby from RSV for a period of at least 5 months (about the length of a typical RSV season). While not technically a “vaccine” in a traditional sense (active immunization), it is being used in a manner similar to routine childhood vaccines and may sometimes be referred to as a vaccine.
How effective is Beyfortus (nirsevimab)?
Data from the 2023-2024 RSV season show that Beyfortus was effective against RSV-associated emergency department visits and hospitalization among infants in their first RSV season. Specifically, data from the VISION Multi-Site Network of Electronic Health Records showed Beyfortus was 77% effective at preventing RSV-associated emergency room visits and 98% effective at preventing RSV-associated hospitalization.
What are the side effects of Beyfortus (nirsevimab)?
Because Beyfortus is a passive immunization and the baby’s immune system does not need to react to it in order for the baby to be protected, side effects are usually very mild. The only common side effects are reactions at the site of the injection such as pain, redness, or swelling. Allergic reactions can always happen with injections but they are very rare. Overall, Beyfortus is very safe, well tolerated, and extremely effective.
