The CDC issued an alert on who should be prioritized for the drug.
that infants younger than 6 months old, as well as those with high-risk health conditions, should be prioritized this season for the new preventive RSV shot, nirsevimab, in order tofor all infants younger than 8 months old to prevent complications from respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. It is not a vaccine but is a passive immunization made of monoclonal antibodies, which are lab-made proteins that help fight off the virus and last about 5 months after the injection.
There is also a recently recommended maternal RSV vaccine, manufactured by Pfizer as Abrysvo, that's given in the third trimester to protect newborns from RSV through the first 6 months of life. If this shot is given at least 2 weeks before a baby is born, the infant does not need to receive nirsevimab because they have protection passed on from their mother.
"Special attention and special efforts should be considered and should be implemented to address additional communities at higher risk," Caldwell told ABC News.Palivizumab, marketed as Synagis, is not new and works as a shorter-acting monoclonal antibody shot for which certain high-risk children 2 years and younger may be eligible. Instead of a single shot like nirsevimab, palivizumab is given as a monthly injection throughout the RSV season, up to five doses.
MORE: I'm a pediatric nurse and my daughter was airlifted due to RSV. What I want other parents to know
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