Texas is extending access to RSV immunizations for infants and toddlers due to high infection rates.<\/p>\n
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common respiratory virus<\/a> that can be particularly dangerous for children under seven months old. The state will extend \u201cseasonal immunization\u201d until the end of April this year due to higher RSV activity.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are at the end of the historical season, but the numbers are not declining, they’re persistent,\u201d said Dr. Donna Persaud, a pediatrician with Parkland Health and medical director of the organization\u2019s homeless outreach program. \u201cFor this time of the year, compared to last year, [infections] were a little bit higher.\u201d<\/p>\n Persaud said RSV can vary from year-to-year, and it isn’t clear why infection rates are higher this year.<\/p>\n \u201cEver since I can remember in my training, the issue of declaring the season over has always been a little bit of a moving target,\u201d Persaud said.<\/p>\n She said there are several thousand more infections in Texas at this point in the year than there were last year. It’s one of 48 states that will continue to offer the vaccine due to high infection rates.<\/p>\n Dallas County Health and Human Services\u2019 virus surveillance dashboard shows at the end of March, 7.7% of RSV tests were positive, compared to under 4.5% last year.<\/p>\n The immunization for RSV is a little bit different than other common vaccines. It\u2019s still a simple shot, like the COVID-19 vaccine or the flu shot, but it has \u201cdirect antibodies\u201d \u2013 which provide protection instantly rather than taking days or weeks to develop immunity.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the next day [a baby was] in a situation where there is contact with someone with active RSV, they already have the antibodies that can block that,\u201d Persaud said. \u201cBecause we have a vaccine that is immediately effective, we’re able to meet that unexpected persistence with continuing to immunize.\u201d RSV is so common that most children have been infected<\/a> by age 2, but people can get infected by the virus more than once. However, RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization among children under a year-old \u2013 which is why Persaud said immunization is particularly important.<\/p>\n Doctors can give the vaccine to children at birth, and they recommend it for children up to seven months old. For children eight to 19 months old \u201cwho have known underlying conditions,\u201d Persaud said parents should talk to their child\u2019s provider about vaccination.<\/p>\n The vaccine recommendations are designed to provide needed protection to children when they are most vulnerable, according to Persaud.<\/p>\n Infants and young children have a \u201cpoorly developed\u201d immune system because their bodies haven\u2019t had enough experience with different germs. That makes it difficult for their body to produce antibodies to fight infections. Persaud said that can increase a child\u2019s risk of severe outcomes, like hospitalization and death.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you get to eight to 19 months, the hospitalization rates are dramatically decreased,\u201d Persaud said. \u201cThis just is the dynamic nature and the way that babies grow. They are growing fast. Even when they’re vulnerable, within a month, they can get to a point where their lungs, et cetera, heart, immune systems are functioning better, and their risk drops off.\u201d<\/p>\n Adults and older children can also get RSV but are at a much lower risk of severe outcomes. \u201cA baby having difficulty eating and breathing are little bit more common and excessive because the secretions with RSV is so much more than the other viruses,\u201d Persaud said.<\/p>\n With growing skepticism about vaccines, Persaud said people should talk to their provider and seek information from trusted sources. She said for pediatric immunizations that includes the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone who’s getting a vaccine or any other medicine should always consider the benefits and the risks,\u201d Persaud said. \u201cConsistently for vaccines, we find that the benefits far outweigh the risks and concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n Persaud said the most common risks include side effects like \u201ctransient\u201d or temporary fever, pain and swelling at the injection site. But she said the benefits include lower risks of hospitalization, serious illness and death.<\/p>\n She also said studies, including after vaccines are introduced into the community, show absent or very low occurrences of severe outcomes from vaccines. There\u2019s also a reporting system used to track adverse effects that allows doctors to have access to data regarding side effects or serious effects.<\/p>\n \u201cAny concern about disability or death\u2026are rare to non-existent with the vaccines that we have today,\u201d Persaud said.<\/p>\n She recommends people keep an eye on what health departments are reporting and understand what risks people in their family have, including adults who may be at higher risk.<\/p>\n \u201cIf your child has not gotten it, we are recommending it until the last day of this month,\u201d Persaud said. \u201cIf you’re unsure [if your child is considered high risk], please talk with your child’s provider.\u201d<\/p>\n Abigail Ruhman is KERA\u2019s health reporter. Got a tip? Email Abigail at\u00a0aruhman@kera.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n
People who are pregnant can get an RSV vaccine \u2013 which helps supply the infant with antibodies it isn\u2019t able to produce yet.<\/p>\n
One of the more unusual things about RSV, according to Persaud, is that the infection can start with a \u201cnon-breathing spell\u201d without presenting other symptoms first. RSV can look like a cough or a cold but involves the baby producing a lot of \u201csecretions,\u201d like mucus and sweat.<\/p>\n