WellSpan Health is bringing the groundbreaking respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunization straight to newborns, now offering the preventative immunization to all infants born in its hospitals in York, Chambersburg, Lebanon, Gettysburg and Ephrata. RSV is the number one cause of hospital admission in the first year of a child’s life and with this new vaccine, the respiratory illness has become highly preventable.

The immunization, nirsevimab, a new monoclonal antibody medication, prevents severe illness due to RSV, a virus that infects the nose, throat and lungs. WellSpan began offering nirsevimab this month to parents of newborns to coincide with the onset of the respiratory viral season in the fall and winter seasons.

“As part of our Spotlight on Children’s Health initiative, WellSpan is committed to ensuring every child in our care has the opportunity to thrive,” said Dr. Kim Bahata, vice president of the Women and Children service line and chief nursing officer of ambulatory care at WellSpan. “It’s the right thing to do to protect the health of these infants, and that’s why WellSpan has made the decision to offer this protection to our tiniest patients.”

“RSV can cause inflammation and make an infant produce a lot of mucous. Together, that can make it hard for a baby to breathe, and there’s little that can be done for them other than suctioning,” said Dr. Chris Russo, director of pediatrics and medical director for quality and innovation for WellSpan’s Women and Children service line. “Nearly 100 percent of babies will get RSV by the time they turn 2 years old. While most children will have only mild symptoms, some infants, even healthy ones, can experience a severe case. RSV can be life-threatening.”

Veronica and Liam Malsteadt opted to have their infant son immunized before they left WellSpan York Hospital following his birth earlier this month. “We wanted to have our son as prepared for the sick season as we could, and these antibodies will help,” Veronica said.

Amanda and Merlyn Sheldon’s daughter Sadie-shea was also born recently at WellSpan York Hospital and opted for the immunization. “We did it just because if there’s anything we can do to keep our baby happy and healthy, we’re gonna do it,” Merlyn said.

“We know the RSV immunization works,” Bahata said. “Last year, WellSpan immunized more than 2,000 children to protect them from RSV. Less than five of those children needed to be hospitalized.”

RSV is the number one reason for a baby under the age of 1 to be hospitalized. Each year, close to 200 infants die from complications of RSV. All infants are at risk of severe RSV disease and infants born prematurely (earlier than 37 weeks) or who were in a neonatal intensive care unit after birth are at a higher risk of severe RSV disease.

Infants may receive the immunization up to 8 months of age at a WellSpan pediatrics or outpatient family medicine practice offered during RSV season, October through March.

“We’ve had nothing for decades to help alleviate RSV illness,” Russo said. “This is not a treatment, but to know we can prevent this illness, we’re over the moon.”
For more information about maternity services at WellSpan, visit: https://www.wellspan.org/conditions-and-treatments/pregnancy-care.