Infant RSV hospitalizations decrease

As the weather gets colder and people spend more time indoors, the increased close contact means an increased spread of germs. For those with young children, Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a major concern.

“If you and I as adults get RSV, we get a cold, but the younger kids, babies and toddlers, instead of just affecting the upper respiratory area, it often affects their lungs, the lower respiratory system,” Greater Regional Health Family Medicine Physician Karen Krogstad said. “Then they will get a cough, high fevers, difficulty breathing. It can turn into a pneumonia, and so it can make them need oxygen. That’s when, at that point, they need to be in the hospital.”

However, Krogstad said she’s seen a lot less hospital visits due to RSV in the last year or two, something she credits to the FDA approval of various RSV vaccines in 2023 for infants and women between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant. While she didn’t have Greater Regional specific stats, Krogstad shared the major decrease in cases seen across Iowa.

“Statewide in Iowa, during last winter season, [RSV was] 45-50% lower in infants under 3 months old and 28-43% lower in babies between 3 months and 8 months. That was compared to 2018-2020,” Krogstad said. “I have noticed that difference in just being on-call here at our hospital. I can’t say what our numbers are exactly, but I know it’s along those lines because it’s been a noticeable difference of how many babies we hospitalize with RSV.”

Krogstad expects the hospitalization numbers to continue to decrease as more infants qualified for the vaccine last year. Additionally, Krogstad said that all insurances now cover the RSV vaccine in pregnant women.

“Now it’s covered by all insurance and a lot of women are getting that to protect their baby early on. As soon as baby is born, they’re born with protection,” Krogstad said. “So I think it’s also, OK, if I give you this vaccine, your baby won’t have to have one, so you’re taking one shot for the baby.”

Greater Regional Health Immunization Clinic Nurse Daniel Owens said both baby and mother getting the RSV vaccine are effective.

“While the baby getting the vaccine is more effective, about 90%, at keeping the baby out of the hospital due to RSV, the mother getting the vaccine is effective as well, about 78%,” Owens explained. “Even if baby does end up in the hospital due to RSV, the length of stay is on average decreased, from 14-21 days without the vaccine to three-seven days with the vaccine.”

With between 2-3% of infants under six months hospitalized with RSV every year according to a 2024 report from the CDC, the effectiveness of this vaccine can save lives. The RSV vaccine is now recommended by the CDC for all babies, whether through a maternal vaccine in the third trimester or after birth.

While vaccines can be a hot topic in today’s political sphere, Krogstad said protecting children should come first.

“I know there’s lots of politics with vaccines now, but if there are ways that we can prevent babies from getting sick, I’d sure like to help people do that,” Krogstad said.

Pregnant mothers or families with infants interested in the vaccine should talk to their regular physician to find out more or schedule a vaccination.

For those uninsured or underinsured, the RSV vaccine is covered by the federally-funded Vaccines for Children program. This program provides a variety of vaccines at no cost to children ages 18 and under.