New CDC Guidelines: Limited Availability of RSV Shots for Babies – Dodo Finance

Title: Health Officials Revise Recommendations for RSV Prevention Amid Monoclonal Antibody Shortage

Health officials are revising their recommendations for the use of a monoclonal antibody shot called Beyfortus, which prevents severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants, due to a drug shortage. The revised guidelines prioritize higher doses of the shot for babies younger than six months and infants with underlying conditions placing them at risk.

Previously, an advisory panel recommended Beyfortus for all infants under 8 months entering their first RSV season, and children 8 to 19 months at increased risk of severe disease if they were entering their second season. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now advises adjusting the recommendations based on the shortage.

In addition to the revised guidelines, the CDC suggests parents of children 8 to 19 months consider another monoclonal antibody, palivizumab, if eligible. Palivizumab is recommended for high-risk infants born severely premature.

Sanofi, one of the drug manufacturers, has attributed the shortage to “unprecedented demand” and has promised to increase production in collaboration with AstraZeneca. The shortage is concerning as the CDC reports a rise in RSV cases across the country, primarily concentrated in the southeastern U.S.

RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. However, young children, especially those born prematurely, are at a higher risk of developing severe RSV disease. About 58,000 children under 5 are hospitalized for RSV each year in the U.S., with several hundred deaths annually.

Beyfortus was previously recommended as a preventative measure before the RSV season, which typically occurs in fall and winter. The monoclonal antibody is the first widely available to the general population beyond immunocompromised children. However, the shortage has prompted health officials to revise their recommendations and prioritize high-risk infants.

To address the issue, health officials are also urging doctors to encourage pregnant patients to get a new vaccine that protects newborns from RSV. This preventive measure could potentially eliminate the need for follow-up shots of the antibody vaccine.

As the shortage of Beyfortus continues, health officials are closely monitoring the RSV situation and are working with manufacturers to ensure an adequate supply of the monoclonal antibody in the future. It is crucial for parents and healthcare providers to stay updated on the latest recommendations to protect infants from severe RSV disease.