LAC | DPH - Vaccine Preventable Disease Control Program

What is RSV?Updated 9-24-24

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a very contagious respiratory virus that can cause cold like symptoms in some but can cause pneumonia and severe disease in others.
RSV is a significant cause of hospitalizations and death in infants and older adults.
There are several safe and effective immunizations available to prevent severe RSV disease in infants, young children and older adults.

Fact Sheet

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Protecting Infants & Young Children from RSV

Key Facts

RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization in all infants and can be especially dangerous for infants and children with certain conditions.
Each year in the United States, an estimated 60,000-80,000 children younger than 5 years are hospitalized due to RSV infection.
There are two effective ways to prevent RSV in your infant:
- A maternal RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) can be given to pregnant persons during 32-36 weeks of pregnancy. Pregnant persons can then transfer that protection to infants for their first 6 months of life.
- A monoclonal antibody product, called nirsevimab (Beyfortus), can be given to protect infants aged <8 months who are born during or entering their first RSV season and for infants and children aged 8–19 months who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease and are entering their second RSV season.

RSV Vaccine for Pregnant People to Protect Infants

An RSV vaccine called Abrysvo is recommended if you are 32-36 weeks pregnant during September through January.
When pregnant people receive this vaccine, RSV protection for their infant starts as soon as the baby is born and will last until they are at least 6 months old.
Pregnant persons can get the RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) at the same time as other vaccines that are recommended during pregnancy to protect newborns, including Tdap, COVID-19, and Influenza.
Additional doses of RSV vaccine during future pregnancies are not recommended. However, these infants can receive nirsevimab.

RSV Immunization for Infants (Preventive Monoclonal Antibodies)

If a person received the RSV vaccine during pregnancy: Most infants who are born to persons who got the RSV vaccine at least 2 weeks before giving birth will not need additional RSV immunization.
If a person did not receive RSV vaccine during pregnancy at least 2 weeks before delivery, then infants should get an RSV antibody immunization called nirsevimab (Beyfortus) during RSV season (October-March).
- Infants born between October to March should get a dose of nirsevimab (Beyfortus) within one week of birth.
- Infants younger than 8 months should get a dose of nirsevimab (Beyfortus).
- Infants and children 8-19 months of age who are at high risk for severe RSV disease and entering their second RSV season should also receive one dose of nirsevimab, including:
  - American Indian and Alaska Native children
  - Children born prematurely and have chronic lung disease
  - Children with severe weakened immune systems
  - Children with severe cystic fibrosis
Monoclonal antibody products provide an extra layer of protection against RSV disease.

Adults 60 Years of Age and Older

Key Facts

Each year in the U.S., between 60,000-160,000 older adults are hospitalized and 6,000-10,000 die due to RSV infection.
Older adults, especially those with certain medical conditions like COPD, asthma, and congestive heart failure, are at higher risk for severe RSV disease.

Vaccines

Adults 75 years and older should receive a single dose of RSV vaccine to protect them from severe RSV disease.
Adults 60 – 74 years with certain medical conditions or who reside in nursing homes or long-term care facilities, should also receive a single dose of RSV vaccine. Talk to your health care provider to see if vaccination is right for you.
- Arexvy (GSK), Abrysvo (Pfizer), and MRESVIA (Moderna) vaccines are approved for use in adults 60 years and older. The vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines.

Where to get a Vaccine

There are many places to get the MMR or MMRV vaccine. If you have insurance, talk to your doctor or check with your local pharmacy to see what vaccines are offered. Most health insurances cover the cost of all recommended vaccines for children and adults.

If you are uninsured or underinsured, there are programs available to help cover the cost of vaccines. Children who are 18 years of age or younger are eligible to receive vaccines at no cost through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program if they are:

Eligible for or are enrolled in Medi-Cal
American Indian or Alaskan Native
Uninsured (do not have health insurance)
Underinsured (private health insurance does not cover the full cost of vaccines)

Click to see if your child is eligible to receive VFC vaccines: English | Spanish

Uninsured or underinsured adults can access free or low cost vaccines at select clinics enrolled in the Vaccines for Adults (VFA) program. For more information on who is eligible, read VFA Eligibility Based on Insurance Status. You can use the following resources for more information on locating clinics:

A list of free and low-cost clinics in Los Angeles County.
Interactive county map to locate free and low-cost vaccine clinics.
LACDPH Vaccine Preventable Disease Control Program website for patients and their families to get more information on vaccines.

You can also dial 2-1-1 for a list of free or low cost vaccine clinics. This includes Vaccines for Children (VFC) provider locations that serve Medi-Cal eligible children and uninsured or underinsured adults. Learn more about specific vaccine information for different age groups: