RSV Vaccine opinion

What is everyone’s opinion on the RSV vaccine? When we were home for Christmas (in Tennessee), everyone we visited seemed to have a cold or some other “ailment”, without telling us before we got there. The boys ended up with the sniffles, but not full blown colds and I think it’s because of the vaccine.

What do you think?

 

My boys too are getting the RSV vaccine and I really think that has helped us get thru the holidays and just had the sniffles...it is great to hear that others are getting the vaccine during this time of year and that the results are positive...good luck the rest of the season and I do think it has helped you two too.

 

My boys have been getting the shots as well. We were around a TON of little ones over the holiday and my neice who was also visiting on Christmas actually HAD RSV and they didn't know it. My boys have not even had the sniffles yet.

 

QUOTE(serranoboys @ Jan 4 2008, 10:59 AM) [snapback]557271[/snapback]
My boys have been getting the shots as well. We were around a TON of little ones over the holiday and my neice who was also visiting on Christmas actually HAD RSV and they didn't know it. My boys have not even had the sniffles yet.



That is soooo good to know

I've been wondering all this time if the additional shots were worth it, and I think they really are.

We have the Synagis shot next Tuesday and then their 4 month check up the following Tuesday… so I call the Dr's office and asked if I could get one appointment but they said no. Apparently it would be too much fluid to inject into their little bodies, so I can understand. It just makes it hard to have to take off work two days, 'cause as everyone knows, its hard to get two little ones to the dr. for checkups and shots without a struggle. Its takes both me and the husband to get the job done.

 

From what I understand, the RSV shot is not a vaccine at all, but actually just pure antibodies? I am generally in favor of taking vaccinations slow -- we've delayed some, and gotten the others one at a time -- but I am disappointed that my little ones didn't qualify for the RSV shots.

(Unsure why, because they were preemies, plus we have a 3-year-old in the house who goes to preschool, so we meet at least two of the criteria.)

That being said, don't these shots just protect against RSV (the specific virus), and not the common cold? So, I don't think they help if your babies are exposed to any other cold virus....

I could be wrong, however -- I'm not too familiar with it.

 

For those of you whose kids get the Synagis shots... (mind do too)... I thought I'd mention that many insurance companies will pay to send a nurse out to your house to administer the shots rather than you having to go to the doctors office. Some doctors don't mention this because they make a lot of money off the shots (this is according to our pediatrician). The girls pediatrician got everything set up for us through our insurance company, but I was told that a parent could call and ask to switch as well. Apparently my insurance company was happy to switch us over to home shots rather than doctors office shots. Just FYI...

 

From little I understand about the whole process, it aids in fact that colds would less likely turn into RSV

I pulled this from the CDC website:

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia among infants and children under 1 year of age. Illness begins most frequently with fever, runny nose, cough, and sometimes wheezing. During their first RSV infection, between 25% and 40% of infants and young children have signs or symptoms of bronchiolitis or pneumonia, and 0.5% to 2% require hospitalization. Most children recover from illness in 8 to 15 days. The majority of children hospitalized for RSV infection are under 6 months of age. RSV also causes repeated infections throughout life, usually associated with moderate-to-severe cold-like symptoms; however, severe lower respiratory tract disease may occur at any age, especially among the elderly or among those with compromised cardiac, pulmonary, or immune systems.

 

A friend of mine just had to take their 5 month old to Childrens Hospital because the RSV got so bad--he is expected to be there through the weekend (went in on Wed). After seeing what their little man has been through, I am gald I went ahead with the vaccination for the twins He has an IV coming out of his head(because they couldn't get it in anywhere else), oxygen in his nose, treatments every few hours, and they had to suction out his lungs...UGH!

 

We dont vaccinate, and we passed on the RSV shots as well. I think as long as you dont allow many visitors during RSV season, keep up with healthy sanitation and habits, you should be fine. My girls are 21 months old and have only had 3 minor colds since birth all while teething. We were around alot of kids/people for Christmas and the such, and they are perfectly healthy despite my brother was sick on xmas day and my dad got sick the day after xmas...

 

Ours are also getting the shots and were around many sick people over Christmas. A few days after being exposed to all the sickies, one of ours got a low fever that went away overnight without Tylenol, the other one had diarrhea for a day, and they both have runny noses that are a little annoying but aren't interfering with eating or sleep.

Although I suppose we'll never know whether this could have been worse without the shots, it gives me such peace of mind knowing they have those antibodies in them. We can deal with the minor symptoms they've had and so can they. Who knows how bad it would be without the shots? I'm glad we don't have to find out.

 

QUOTE(BridgePort @ Jan 4 2008, 02:13 PM) [snapback]557584[/snapback]
Ours are also getting the shots and were around many sick people over Christmas. A few days after being exposed to all the sickies, one of ours got a low fever that went away overnight without Tylenol, the other one had diarrhea for a day, and they both have runny noses that are a little annoying but aren't interfering with eating or sleep.

Although I suppose we'll never know whether this could have been worse without the shots, it gives me such peace of mind knowing they have those antibodies in them. We can deal with the minor symptoms they've had and so can they. Who knows how bad it would be without the shots? I'm glad we don't have to find out.



I couldn't agree with you more!!! I wish I didn't have to get my boys out of the house everyday (to the sitter) and the weather here in Charlotte has just turned bitter cold, but I really don't have another choice right now.

 

My girls didn't qualify for the shots (born 38 wks) and I sure wish they had! I'm pretty sure both of my girls are getting over it right now and it's been a miserable week for all of us! Coughs, wheezing, runny nose and a fever that lasted several days. I called our doctor's office and the nurse didn't seem to think they needed to be seen, sure wish I had pushed the issue! I've actually been giving them breathing treatments I had from my oldest child and they really seem to help. Unless you like being housebound for the winter (I don't), I would get them the shots if available. I have a 3 year old also that attends pre-school so she's bringing hom germs plus I would never get any errands run if I always had to have someone to stay home with the babies.

 

Both of my girls are getting the shots, in fact they just got their second round today. So far we have had to problems with illnesses. I figure its better to be safe than sorry. They do not have any side effects from them, so if it helps prevent them getting really sick, I am all for it!

 

Yep mine are getting them and i totally feel like they have helped.. Few sniffles but nothing to worry about here eitehr andthey were around alot over the holidays! I am happy we were approved! They would not approve me to have them done in house though... So interesting on that...I did find out that i should not have been paying for a co-pay each time for shots, should i call about a refund?

 

QUOTE(jschaad @ Jan 4 2008, 03:25 PM) [snapback]557707[/snapback]
Yep mine are getting them and i totally feel like they have helped.. Few sniffles but nothing to worry about here eitehr andthey were around alot over the holidays! I am happy we were approved! They would not approve me to have them done in house though... So interesting on that...I did find out that i should not have been paying for a co-pay each time for shots, should i call about a refund?



We haven't had to pay a co-pay each time we go in for the shots, so unless you owe your Dr. for something else I'd ask them to put what you've already paid towards the regular visits

 

I wasn't sure what to do because we switched our insurance and the RSV shots are costing several hundred dollars a month plus deductibles. However, I was afraid not to get them. The NICU nurses really warned us about it since they had seen so many of "their" babies back in the hospital with RSV. I decided that my children's health was worth the money--so it ended up on our credit card. Just make sure that if you start the cycle, you continue it (usually at least 5 months). I've read that it can be harmful to do a few vaccines for RSV then stop them early. And watch out for colds that develop into wheezing or breathing difficulty--you could be looking at RSV.