RSV Season Is Here: How to Protect Your Baby This Fall and Winter

By Janice Robinson-Celeste

RSV season is starting, and babies in their first months face the highest risk of getting seriously sick. The good news is that RSV protection for babies has come a long way, and parents now have two ways to protect a newborn, and the CDC recommends that most babies get one of them. Here is what each option is and when to ask for it.

Key Takeaways

• Most babies only need ONE of two options: the RSV vaccine during pregnancy, or an RSV antibody shot after birth.
• The pregnancy vaccine (Abrysvo) is given once, between weeks 32 and 36, usually September through January.
• Babies under 8 months whose mothers did not get the vaccine should get an antibody (nirsevimab or clesrovimab).
• Some children ages 8 to 19 months with certain health conditions need a second-season dose.

What Is RSV and Why Does It Hit Babies Hardest?

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, usually acts like a cold in older kids and adults. In young babies, it can move into the small airways and lungs and cause bronchiolitis or pneumonia. Babies under 6 months are most likely to need a hospital stay because their airways are so small. That is why RSV protection for babies starts before birth or in the first days of life.

If you want to understand how a baby’s immune system builds up in the first months, our article on immune health for babies explains the basics.

Option 1: The RSV Vaccine During Pregnancy

The CDC recommends one dose of Pfizer’s Abrysvo vaccine between weeks 32 and 36 of pregnancy, usually given September through January in most of the continental U.S. Your body makes antibodies and passes them to your baby before birth.

Babies born at least 14 days after mom got the vaccine usually do not need the antibody shot, too.

Option 2: An RSV Antibody Shot for Your Baby

If you did not get the vaccine during pregnancy, you are not sure, or your baby arrived within 14 days of the shot, the CDC recommends an RSV antibody for babies under 8 months. There are two: nirsevimab and clesrovimab. They give your baby ready-made antibodies right away.

• Born October through March: ideally within the first week of life, often before you leave the hospital.
• Born April through September: shortly before RSV season, around October or November.
• Second season: some children 8 to 19 months old with certain conditions, like chronic lung disease from prematurity or a weakened immune system, may need nirsevimab again.

RSV Protection for Babies: Questions to Ask at Your Next Visit

• “Did I get the RSV vaccine during pregnancy, and when?”
• “Does my baby need the RSV antibody, and can we get it today?”
• “Does my baby have a condition that means a second-season dose?”

Call your doctor right away if your baby is breathing fast, pulling in at the ribs, wheezing, not feeding well or has fewer wet diapers. Share this with an expecting mom in your life so she can ask before her due date.

Germs travel in packs this time of year, so RSV protection for babies works best alongside everyday habits. Our tips for surviving flu season and our look at what flu season costs when sick kids go to school can help you plan for the months ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my baby need both the vaccine and the antibody?

Usually no. Most babies need just one. If mom got the vaccine at least 14 days before birth, the antibody is generally not needed.

Is the RSV antibody a vaccine?

No. It gives your baby antibodies directly, so protection starts right away instead of waiting for the body to make its own.

Is it too late to protect my baby this season?

No. RSV protection for babies under 8 months is still available. They can get the antibody during RSV season, which in most of the country runs through March. Ask your pediatrician.

Medical disclaimer: Successful Black Parenting is not a medical provider, and this article is not medical advice. Always talk with your child’s doctor or your own health care provider about your family’s situation.

Photos and some content may be AI generated.