RSV antibody has arrived!

Our practice is offering the Beyfortus (nirsevimab) RSV antibody injection this season. Any infant under 8 months of age whose mother did not receive the maternal RSV injection, Abrysvo, is eligible. If you received Abrysvo less than 14 days prior to delivery, your infant is also eligible. Please ask your provider at your infant’s next well child visit about receiving Beyfortus this RSV season.

The CDC gives a nice description of how Beyfortus is different than our “usual” immunizations:

Nirsevimab is an injectable monoclonal antibody that prevents severe RSV disease in infants and young children.  Monoclonal antibodies do not activate the immune system, as would occur with infection or vaccination (active immunization). Rather, the antibodies themselves protect against disease (i.e., passive immunization).

Because nirsevimab does not activate the immune system, protection is likely most effective the weeks after nirsevimab is given and wanes over time. Nirsevimab does not provide long-term immunity to RSV disease but provides protection to infants when they are most at risk of getting severe RSV disease. As children get older, they are less likely to get severe symptoms from RSV infection.