NEW YORK – A new RSV vaccine for infants is in low supply, and US health officials have advised doctors to give the medicine first to babies most at risk of serious sickness.
According to a Monday evening recommendation from the Centers for Illness Control and Prevention, infants under 6 months old with chronic lung illness or other underlying disorders should be prioritized.
RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common cause of cold-like symptoms in young children that can be fatal. It is a seasonal virus widely reported in the southern United States and is predicted to spread further over the next month or two.
The new one-time shot contains a lab-created antibody that aids the immune system in fighting the virus. The medicine, known as Beyfortus, was developed by AstraZeneca and Sanofi.
A New RSV Shot For Infants Is In Short Supply
The FDA authorized it in July, and the CDC recommended it for newborns born immediately before or during the RSV season and those less than 8 months old when the season begins. They also suggested a dose for those 8- to 19-month-olds at higher risk of serious illness.
It is available in 50-milligram and 100-milligram prefilled syringes. The higher doses are intended for larger, heavier newborns.
In a recent letter to state immunization administrators, the CDC stated that orders for shots placed through a programme that pays for vaccines for impoverished and uninsured children would be halted. The CDC issued a more general warning to clinicians in the United States on Monday.
Sanofi said that demand, particularly for greater doses, “has been higher than anticipated.”
According to health experts, there needs to be more to safeguard all children eligible for the larger shots. According to CDC officials, smaller doses may also be in short supply during the current RSV season. According to the CDC, doctors should not use two smaller doses on larger infants to protect the supply of such vaccines.
According to agency authorities, certain youngsters may be eligible for palivizumab, an earlier RSV treatment. This medication necessitates monthly injections.
Doctors are also being asked to try to persuade pregnant women to receive a new RSV vaccine aimed at protecting babies. When this occurs, the baby does not require the antibody medication.
SOURCE – (AP)
