A new immunization to help protect infants against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) was released during the 2023-2024 fall/winter respiratory viral season. Due to extremely limited supply issues, we were unable to obtain it in the office during that first season. We are happy to announce that we will be placing an order for the upcoming 2024-2025 season to offer for infants who qualify!
RSV is a very common respiratory virus that typically circulates each fall/winter (generally October through March). In healthy adults or older children, it generally causes simply mild cold/upper respiratory symptoms. In younger children and other vulnerable individuals, however, it can cause a lower respiratory infection called bronchiolitis with the potential for wheezing, respiratory distress, and decreased oxygen levels sometimes requiring hospitalization. Infants are particularly at risk for these complications and are therefore the group who is targeted to receive the newly released immunization.
The immunization is called nirsevimab (Beyfortus) and works differently than a vaccine in that it is a monoclonal antibody. It provides protection from infection via “passive immunity” by introducing already created antibodies against the virus into the body. This is opposed to traditional vaccines that provide “active immunity” by stimulating the body (via various methods depending on which vaccine) to create it’s own antibodies against the virus. Nirsevimab does not create long-term protection from RSV but provides protection for about 5 months (to cover at risk infants during their first RSV season when they are most vulnerable) and reduces the risk of severe RSV disease by 80%.
Nirsevimab (Beyfortus) is approved/recommended for infants younger than 8 months of age at the time of entering their first RSV season or born during RSV season (October through March). If a mother received the RSV vaccine during pregnancy (Abrysvo) at least 14 days prior to delivery, their infant does not subsequently need to receive the immunization. A very small number of higher risk babies may qualify beyond 8 month up to 19 months old (see links below for details).
If you are interested in the RSV immunization for your child, please check with your insurance company to confirm that it is a covered service and/or what your out-of-pocket costs would be. Insurance coverage varies from company to company so it is not possible for our office to let you know without you checking directly. You may need the following CPT codes when speaking with the insurance company: 90380 (for infants <5 kg, approximately 11 pounds) or 90381 (for infants >5kg, over 11 pounds). Once you have confirmed that you would like to proceed, please then update our office.
For more information about RSV immunization, please check out the following links:
CDC Full RSV Immunization Information Page
HealthyChildren.org Information
Beyfortus Prescribing Information (Package Insert)