�պ�����

Rebecca Bell, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at the Larner College of Medicine and a pediatric critical care physician at �պ����� (�պ�����) Children’s Hospital, urges families to get their newborns and infants preventatively treated for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the Burlington Free Press reports.

Recent studies reveal that a new version of the immunization is combating the virus at a highly effective pace, and �պ�����MC is seeing that directly with low hospitalizations for the virus.

RSV is a respiratory virus that affects children—in general, the younger the child, the worse the effects; it’s particularly dangerous for infants under 6 months, oftentimes requiring hospitalization for critical respiratory care. “RSV is the most common reason for children under one year old to be admitted to the hospital,” says Bell. She says every year the PICU is full of infants critically ill with RSV infection.

The new immunization—approved by the Food and Drug Administration in July 2023—is more than 90 percent effective at preventing hospitalization, however. Bell says that RSV-related hospital admissions for the youngest patients are down significantly and can be directly attributed to the new medicine. The immunization includes new monoclonal antibody prevention medicine.

The medication—nirsevimab—is given via injection to infants under 8 months old. Unlike a vaccine, the immunization provides a ready-made supply of antibody protection to babies without triggering an immune system response. Protection against severe RSV infection begins immediately after the injection.

Research published in late 2024 by  found nirsevimab was more than 90 percent effective at preventing hospitalization for RSV, and 89 percent effective at preventing all types of doctor visits for the virus. The immunization is particularly effective at preventing severe forms of RSV that require intensive care.

“This season looks totally different than it’s ever looked before,” Bell said. “There is a lot of RSV around—it’s just that infants aren’t becoming critically ill because they’re being immunized against it.”

The immunization is currently available across Vermont for all infants under 8 months old at a doctor’s office.

This topic was also covered by and