Is the RSV vaccine safe for babies? Partially crunchy mom

amother

OP ↓

Yesterday at 3:30 pm

I’m neither fully pro nor anti vax. I don’t believe in giving too much at a shot and am against the combo vaccines where they add unnecessary vaccines. And I think many vaccines are unnecessary

My baby is a preemie and I worry in particular about him catching RSV.

I’m not good at research when it comes to vaccines.

Could someone who has done some research let me know about the RSV vaccine?

amother

Leaf ↓

Yesterday at 3:38 pm

I'm not going to weigh in on the safety of that. Safety of vaccines is a whole other topic.

But unlike all of the other childhood vaccines, this actually works against a real and present illness that actually poses a real threat to your child. Especially if he's a preemie.

So is it worth the risk is a different question. But it definitely is not unnecessary and the protection may outweigh the risk that comes with all vaccines.

amother

Firebrick

Yesterday at 3:42 pm

For a preemie I would 100% give it. This is not a new vaccine by any means and it’s also an antibody not the live virus so it will help protect him. Hospitals have always given this vaccine to vulnerable preemies, it’s not a new thing. Having had a baby get RSV I can say it’s horrendous, but add being a preemie and you’re risking a rough road if he catches it.

amother

↑ Leaf

Yesterday at 3:44 pm

amother Firebrick wrote:

True, it's not an actual vaccine. They call it a vaccine cuz it makes it sound healthier. That doesn't change the safety profile either way.

amother

Bubblegum ↓

Yesterday at 3:56 pm

It's monoclonal antibodies.

Either humanized mouse antibodies, or antibodies grown on cancer cell lines.

Neither are ideal. But being that they don't act on the immune system the way traditional vaccines do, they carry a different risk profile.

You have a preemie. How early? How old are they now? How compromised are they actually? How healthy/sick have they been? Are they breastfeeding? Are they in day care? Do they have older siblings bringing germs home? How comfortable are you with alternative/home remedies? There is actually lots you can do in the event they do catch rsv to prevent it from getting serious, but you need to be confident and prepared and aggressive...

These are all things to consider and think about.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Yesterday at 6:41 pm

amother Bubblegum wrote:

My preemie is a 24 weeker. He’s a year old. He has only gotten sick twice, but we’ve been minimizing Contact with people that we know are sick. He is no longer breast-feeding. He’s at home and an only child. When it comes to alternative remedies, I prefer things that are at least partially science based.

amother

Ghostwhite

Yesterday at 6:44 pm

No one will do the research for you or make the decision for you. This is your first child and you as a mother are responsible for making life changing health decisions, this is great practice to research the norm, question doctors and make your own informed decisions

amother

↑ Bubblegum ↓

Yesterday at 6:48 pm

amother OP wrote:

I can't tell you what to do but I would at least look up evidence based interventions for opening up the airway, reducing mucus secretions. Inflammation and cytokine cascades etc. There are so many out there. Nebulized glutathione is a personal favorite.

For prophylaxis maybe you can get some donor breastmilk? Human or Bovine colostrum? Alpha thymosin peptides?

Pragmatically you're in a pretty ideal setup with him being an only and you being able to keep him away from sick contacts. And him being a year old already.

Keep in mind that the monoclonal antibodies can be used post exposure and as acute care as well. Off label and not as effective but still done.

amother

Magnolia ↓

Yesterday at 6:48 pm

amother Lightcoral wrote:

I would not give it.
Yes I had a newborn that was hospitalized with RSV. Throw the tomatoes Hiding

When you say newborn how many weeks old was your child?
I also had a newborn hospitalized with rsv. Why would you not give the vaccine?

amother

↑ Lightcoral

Yesterday at 6:51 pm

amother Magnolia wrote:

When you say newborn how many weeks old was your child?
I also had a newborn hospitalized with rsv. Why would you not give the vaccine?

5 weeks. It’s something new and not enough research has been done on it.

ETA this is what google says

amother

↑ OP

Yesterday at 6:51 pm

amother Bubblegum wrote:

I can't tell you what to do but I would at least look up evidence based interventions for opening up the airway, reducing mucus secretions. Inflammation and cytokine cascades etc. There are so many out there. Nebulized glutathione is a personal favorite.

Pragmatically you're in a pretty ideal setup with him being an only and you being able to keep him away from sick contacts.

Keep in mind that the monoclonal antibodies can be used post exposure and as acute care as well. Off label and not as effective but still done.

Thank you I will look into your suggestions. I really appreciate your help!

amother

↑ Bubblegum ↓

Yesterday at 6:55 pm

amother OP wrote:

Thank you I will look into your suggestions. I really appreciate your help!

I added some more suggestions to my post above.

If you follow any integrative people on insta there's so much info out there. Pretty sure holistic mother has an rsv post.

Also if you can delay vaccines until after this winter that can help keep his lungs stronger. Keeping off dairy can help as well.

Use a HEPA air purifier in the home and in his room.

amother

↑ Magnolia

Yesterday at 7:07 pm

amother Lightcoral wrote:

5 weeks. It’s something new and not enough research has been done on it.

ETA this is what google says

Mine was 6 weeks old. I was pretty frightened and if there was something to avoid that I probably would have.
The vaccine is around for way longer than that. I didn’t get the option to give it so I never looked into it but I know premies that got it.

amother

Silver

Yesterday at 7:51 pm

amother Lightcoral wrote:

5 weeks. It’s something new and not enough research has been done on it.

ETA this is what google says

Google is talking about the actual rsv vaccine that is currently only available to give to older adults or pregnant women. The “rsv vaccine” given to babies is a monoclonal antibody injection that has been around for many years and is very effective at reducing the chances a preemie will get seriously ill with rsv.

RSV presents a real life threatening danger to small infants and preemies specifically. To OP- I would suggest having a conversation with your pediatrician regarding your child and the risks rsv poses now at this age and considering any medical conditions your child may have as a result of being a preemie.

amother

↑ Bubblegum ↓

Yesterday at 7:54 pm

amother Silver wrote:

Synagis and beyfortus are both monoclonals. One is old and one is new.

amother

Brunette ↓

Yesterday at 8:16 pm

amother Lightcoral wrote:

5 weeks. It’s something new and not enough research has been done on it.

ETA this is what google says

That's incorrect.

Synagis has been around for years. I just checked -since 1998. The newer vaccines for RSV have only been around since 2023. I would not hesitate a second to give Synagis.

A 24 weeker is respiratory compromised. I work in the medical field and have seen RSV make full term babies critically ill, never mind preemies or those medically challenged. I would absolutely give it.

LGH

Yesterday at 8:35 pm

I’m not sure about the science behind it but from my personal experience, I would say to give it. I have a close family member that is a doctor and highly recommends it for all his patients since he has seen the horrors that RSV has caused so many people. Also, as some other people mentioned, it’s not an actual vaccine but rather antibodies which help the body fight the virus. RSV is no joke and causes thousands of hospitalizations a year.
I also want to mention that I gave my newborn the RSV shot in September and he just got over a slight case of RSV. At first I was confused about the affective of the shot but after a discussion with my doctor I realized that the vaccine caused him to have a super mild case of RSV and I shudder to think what it could have Chas veshalom have been without it. He BH only had slight cold symptoms and was perfectly fine after 2 days.