GREELEY, Colo. (Dec. 11, 2024) – In the United States, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season begins in September and runs through the end of January and Banner Health is encouraging pregnant women to receive an FDA-approved vaccine to help reduce the severity of the respiratory virus.
In August 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Abrysvo, the first RSV vaccine used for pregnant women to prevent lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) and severe LRTD caused by the RSV virus in infants from birth through six months of age.*
“The idea with the FDA-approved Abrysvo is pregnant women, who will be delivering during RSV season, are vaccinated between 32 weeks and 0 days to 36 weeks and six days,” said Colleen Foos, MD, of obstetrics and gynecology at Banner Health in Greeley. “The mom receives the vaccine, producing antibodies against RSV, which crosses the placenta and the baby is born with the antibodies.”
According to Dr. Foos, newborns are 16 times more likely to be admitted to the hospital because of RSV than the flu, which makes Abrysvo’s effectiveness even more impressive.
“Abrysvo lowered the risk of severe lower respiratory illness in newborns 84.7% in the first 90 days of life, and 69.4% in the first 180 days of life,” said Dr. Foos.
If the pregnant mother does not want to receive the vaccination, there is still an option for the newborn to receive the antibodies. Beyfortus is a monoclonal antibody that is active against RSV and is administered as a single intramuscular injection.*
“Whether the mother elects to receive the vaccine or the child receives it after birth, both are proven to be effective,” said Dr. Foos. “One is not better than the other.”
For more information, patients can call the Banner Health Clinic in Greeley specializing in obstetrics and gynecology at (970) 810-6353.
About Banner North Colorado Medical Center
Banner North Colorado Medical Center is a fully accredited, private, nonprofit facility licensed in Greeley, Colorado owned by Banner Health, a nonprofit health care system with 33 hospitals in six states. It serves as a regional medical center offering a comprehensive scope of community-based and specialty health care services for an area including southern Wyoming, western Nebraska, western Kansas and northeastern Colorado. It offers Emergency care, cancer care, heart care, orthopedics, inpatient and outpatient surgery, obstetrics, pediatrics, rehabilitation, intensive care, lab and medical imaging and medical air transport. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com/ncmc.
*SOURCES:
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