Nirsevimab is recommended for all infants younger than 8 months of age who were born during or are entering their first RSV season if:
- The mother did not receive an RSV vaccine during pregnancy.
- The mother’s RSV vaccination status is unknown.
- The infant was born within 14 days of maternal RSV vaccination.
Complete Children’s Health highly recommends ALL babies who qualify for nirsevimab receive this potentially lifesaving immunization. We are holding clinics for infants less than 8 months during their first RSV season and high-risk infants and toddlers who qualify for nirsevimab during their 2nd RSV season in October.
If your child meets the criteria above, please call our office (402-465-5600) to schedule.
The immunization can be given as early as October 1, 2024. Most commercial insurers cover the cost of nirsevimab for eligible patients. However, if you have questions about your coverage or cost sharing, please contact your insurance company for details specific to your policy.
Note: If your baby will be seen for a wellness visit during the month of October or November, we can administer it during their regular wellness check so there is no need to schedule an “extra” appointment!
For more information about RSV, nirsevimab (Beyfortus) please see the section below:
What is RSV and why is it a serious disease in infants and some children?
RSV is a common and easily transmitted viral infection which can cause difficulty breathing and feeding, respiratory failure, and death in infants and certain high-risk populations. RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalizations, averaging 16 times higher than for influenza. An estimated 1% to 3% of children under 12 months of age in the U.S. are hospitalized each year due to RSV. Approximately 2.1 million physician office and emergency department visits result from RSV during a typical season (in most parts of the U.S. October through April) and the illness results each year in the death of 100-300 children younger than 5 years. More information about RSV in infants and children can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/infants-young-children/index.html.
What is nirsevimab (Beyfortus)?
Nirsevimab (Beyfortus) is a single injection of antibodies against RSV. This kind of protection is known as a passive immunization. Protection is estimated to last 5 months (the length of RSV season). More specific information about nirsevimab can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/vaccines/protect-infants.html