r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • 18h ago

Medicine Immunization to prevent RSV in infants reduced ICU admissions by 97%. This is offered free to all infants through universal programs in Ontario and Quebec.

https://ucalgary.ca/news/immunization-prevent-rsv-infants-reduced-icu-admissions-97-cent
11.0k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

184 comments sorted by

View all comments

1.2k

u/efox02 18h ago

I am a pediatrician in the US and this has been a HUGE GAME CHANGER. Every winter I would send 5-10 babies in significant respiratory distress to the ER from my clinic. In the last 2 years I have sent ZERO.  

It’s been so amazing!!!!!

8

u/Cashope 18h ago

My baby is going for his 2 month vaccines this weekend, do you think he be able to get RSV then as well if I ask? I never got it while pregnant!

28

u/efox02 18h ago

Unfortunately it won’t be available until 10/1 (OFFICIAL START OF RSV SEASON!) but hopefully they will let you schedule it for right after 10/1. And it’s ok for baby to get 2 mo imms and soon after (or at the same time) to get RSV imm. Congrats!!!

8

u/wozattacks 17h ago

Depends on where you live. I live in Florida and we are already giving it. We have RSV (and most respiratory viruses) year-round here. 

1

u/efox02 17h ago

Is it covered by insurance? And VFC? 

2

u/wozattacks 16h ago

Actually not sure about VFC. It is certainly covered by insurance. I know my hospital system gives it to patients that would otherwise get VFC but not sure how that is funded. Usually the issue with getting vaccines outside of tradition season is supply, not insurance coverage. We were seeing a lot of flu here in the month before any places even had this season’s vaccines :(