DALLAS — As the nation faces a shortage of nirsevimab (marketed as Beyfortus), an RSV immunization to protect infants against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), the CDC has announced plans to expedite the shipment of thousands of additional doses.
Beyfortus is an immunization recommended for all infants younger than 8 months of age prior to entering their first RSV season.
This week, the CDC and FDA announced the release of more than 77,000 doses of Beyfortus, a long-acting monoclonal antibody.
The additional doses will go to doctor’s offices and hospitals through the CDC’s Vaccines for Children Program and commercial channels, according to the anouncement.
The CDC announced it will “be in close contact with manufacturers to ensure the availability of additional doses through end of this year and for early 2024 to meet the demand.”
“CDC and FDA are committed to expanding access to this important immunization so that more parents have peace of mind during the winter virus season,” said Dr. Nirav D. Shah, CDC’s principal deputy director.
The plan to expedite the availability of additional doses comes as RSV cases surge nationwide and in North Texas. According to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, RSV PCR tests in the North Texas health region hit a 35% positivity rate in the week ending November 18 -- nearly double the positivity rate from a month prior, when positive PCR tests were at nearly 20% for the week ending in October 21.
Dr. Alice Gong, President of the Texas Pediatric Society said the shortage is a challenge.
“That has been a major problem,” Gong said.
Gong said it’s most effective when given prior to contracting the virus.
“It was pushed out right before the start of RSV season, so there was not the ability to set up an infrastructure,” Gong said.
Katherine Leal Unmuth, a Dallas mom, said the news is welcome, but it's too late for her daughter to receive the RSV shot.
Her then-seven month old daughter Nicolette survived a quadruple viral attack earlier this month. Her daughter, who attends daycare, fought RSV, COVID, adenovirus and rhinovirus, Unmuth told WFAA.
“Her heart rate was high,” Unmuth said. “I was feeling very stressed out.”
Unmuth said she waited more than 15 hours in the emergency room at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas before ICU care became available. The emergency room was filled with sick children, Unmuth said. Her daughter received high-flow oxygen treatment and, fortunately, recovered.
The CDC and FDA announced they encourage more doctors to use the RSV maternal vaccine, which can help ensure babies are protected against RSV before they're born.