Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a virus that causes symptoms like trouble breathing and inflammation in the lungs. It peaks every year during the cooler months and can infect a person more than once, just like flu, COVID-19, and other viruses. Like flu season, RSV season can last from fall to early spring.
Although RSV can infect a person of any age, it usually causes symptoms in babies, young children, and those who have immune diseases. Beyfortus® RSV vaccine is the only preventive RSV vaccine that is approved for infants and babies.
Vaccinate to reduce risk
RSV vaccine is recommended for children because symptoms can present more severely. RSV can cause inflammation in the small airways in the lungs (bronchiolitis) and pneumonia in babies. Babies born prematurely or with heart, lung, or immune system diseases are also at increased risk for severe illness.
How does RSV spread?
- Contact with fluid from an infected person's nose or mouth
- Touching a contaminated surface before touching the eyes, mouth, or nose
- Inhaling droplets from an infected person's sneeze or cough
How can I protect my child from RSV infection?
To prevent severe RSV disease in infants, ARC has the Beyfortus RSV vaccine, which includes the RSV monoclonal antibody, nirsevimab-alip.
This vaccine is only for infants younger than 8 months born during or entering their first RSV season (October – March) or babies 18-19 months who are at increased risk and in their second RSV season.
Schedule an appointment
ARC recommends vaccination during October or November so you can stay protected for RSV season. For more information about the vaccine and how to keep your child safe, speak with your ARC pediatrician or advanced practice clinician (APC) at your child's next checkup. To make an appointment for the Beyfortus RSV vaccine, call 512-272-4636. For a checkup with an ARC pediatrician, you can call, book an appointment online, or book through ARC MyChart.