RSV Vaccine

My pediatrician just called to ask if I wanted to give my boys the RSV vaccine. She's checking with our insurance company to see if they will be covered - those shots are EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!. They were born at 33 1/2 weeks, so they are preemies, but I'm not sure if they need the vaccine. They are not in daycare and aren't around that many people.

Has anyone else had the RSV vaccine? Is it worth getting? How do the shots affect the babies? Is it like getting their regular vaccinations?

Any and all thoughts are very much appreciated.

Thanks! Jessica

 

My girls were born at 30 weeks and we passed. They have never had it either.

 

If you are approved I would get it, there is a reason you aren't approved. Mine got it last year and don't qualify again for it and I wish they did. The shots do not affect the babies and there are no side effects to it. All babies are at risk for RSV, especially preemies. The shot does not prevent RSV, but will make it a much more mild case if they were to get it. It is totally worth it.

Here are a few recent threads on it:

RSV shot thread

Another one

Another one

You can do a search for RSV/Synagis and it will show you all the past threads on it.

 

Hi,

My girls were born at 34.5 weeks and were approved for the RSV shots. I'm not a huge fan of extra shots or medication, but after doing research, I decided that the RSV shots made sense. Mine aren't in day care either and aren't around a lot of people.

They had their first shot this past Monday. Some screaming when the needle went in, but then no other reaction. It was not like the regular vaccines, which made them cranky and feverish for 24 hours.

Good luck with your decision...

 

Mine did not qualify, although, now Lucas has suspected asthma so he may now but then would I do one and not the other...whole different issue.

If you qualify, I would do it.

 

We passed on the Synagis too.

 

I was totally on the fence. (One of the theads linked above is mine.) But I did my research and decided to go ahead with it. They had thier first one on Wednesday and it was fine.

 

Our pedi recommended the boys for it (born at 34w1d) but they were denied. I appealed and did a TON of research in drafting the appeal, but was still denied. i REALLY wish they'd been approved - if you are approved, I would do it.

here's an excerpt from my appeal (citations to the med journals are omitted here):

As UHC is surely aware, RSV is the number one reason for hospitalization of children under the age of one and is the leading cause of viral death in children under the age of five. For babies contracting RSV in their first year of life, the long-term consequences are proven - wheezing, asthma, and abnormal lung function for up to twenty years are common for these young patients.

Although all babies are at risk for RSV, certain infants face greater threats. Indeed, the greater medical community has recognized a host of risk factors for serious RSV infection and hospitalization, including, but not limited to:
• Preterm (36 weeks gestation or less) birth;
• Multiple birth;
• Low birthweight;
• Birth within six months of the onset of RSV season;
• Lack of breastfeeding;
• Male;
• Immunodeficiency; and
• Many, many others.

Of these risk factors, pre-term birth, and its related immunodeficiency and lung immaturity, is most often stressed in the medical literature. That pre-term birth is a significant risk factor should not be surprising. First, pre-term birth may result in incomplete passage of immunity in utero, causing those babies to suffer from more pronounced viral replication in response to RSV exposure. Further, birth before 36 weeks gestation interrupts the final stages of lung development. Pre-term babies may have insufficient supplies of surfactact, and decreased lung volume and surface area. They may have increased smooth muscle, which increases hyperactivity and constriction, and decreases the diameter of the airway. The smaller diameter of the airway in turn increases obstruction during breathing. Pre-term babies may also have increased goblet cell proliferation in the lungs; in other words, their bodies' natural response to try to increase the flow of oxygen may inadvertently promote plugging of the lungs.

For pre-term and other high-risk infants, the medical community is in wide agreement that immunoprophylaxis against RSV is preferred over attempting to treat a serious RSV infection, for which there is no cure, after is has already occurred. The medical community further agrees that monthly administration of a vaccine such as Synagis is safe and effective for the prevention of serious RSV illness, and results in a significant reduction in the number of hospitalizations. Indeed, other insurance companies recognize the efficacy of Synagis administration and provide reasonable guidelines by which to provide the vaccine - guidelines that take into account many of the factors listed above.

 

There is a "reason" that you qualify. Please consider it! It will dramatically help your babies if they contact RSV.

 

Thank you all so much - the feedback is greatly appreciated. If we get approved, I think I'll go ahead with it - I'd rather be safe than end up with a baby or two in the hospital.

Thanks! Jessica

 

My twins were born 6 weeks ago @ 31.5 weeks which just blows my mind. To look at them you wouldn't ever guess they were preemies. We are so blessed. Anyway... The NICU gave them the first shot in the series. I freaked out when I found out the cost but thankfully they have been approved for the full course. I'm definitely getting the shots. I'm 90% certain I'm going back to work so they would be in daycare but I would get it even if they weren't as I have a 5 y/o germ carrier.

Good luck
Christy