Maryland pediatrician 'frustrated' infant RSV shot isn't getting to local newborns

MARYLAND (7News) — Pediatricians breathed a sigh of relief this summer when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new medication for a virus that is the leading cause of hospitalization in infants. Anticipation turned to frustration when supply snags and insurance coverage hiccups prevented newborns from receiving the shot.

The plan was to have the immunization ready before this Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) season. RSV is a common winter illness that leaves babies struggling to breathe.

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The monoclonal antibody Beyfortus was given the green light in July after it cut infants' risk of hospitalization by 80 percent in clinical trials. Dr. Lauren Fitzpatrick of Luminis Health told 7News Health and Wellness Reporter Victoria Sanchez she hoped the shot would cut down on the 80,000 children that end up in U.S. hospitals each year.

But late last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health alert regarding the limited supply of the shot; they recommended the shots be used on the highest-risk infants and only those under 6 months old.

“Are you disappointed that there’s not enough out there?” asked Sanchez.

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“Yes. We are disappointed, we are frustrated. It’s frustrating because we got everyone very excited about it. We got interest, we got patients to trust us that this was an opportunity, and this had potential and then we have zero follow through," said Dr. Fitzpatrick, the pediatric in-patient and ER medical director.

Physicians are shifting their focus from newborns to pregnant mothers. There is an adult RSV vaccine called Abrysvo and if pregnant moms get the shot between 32 and 36 weeks, that will allow antibodies to passively get to the baby.

Dr. Fitzpatrick said there are seven children admitted at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center with the virus. The average length of stay is between three and four days. That is a typical number of patients for the hospital this time of year but she was hoping to avoid those illnesses.

She is not expecting the vaccine in time for the rest of this RSV season and hopes the rollout for next year will be smoother.

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