RSV?

Bridgit - posted on 08/13/2010

my preemie was given the rsv shots, and came in contact with a full term baby who had rsv the day after we saw him (he was a carrier prior) and she was never sick

Heather - posted on 08/13/2010

I wouldn't chance it with a preemie. My daughter was was a 33 week-er and the RSV shot was required before she could be discharged. With a preemie, they get illnesses so easy. I know no one likes to give their babies medication, but think of it like this, if you don't get her these shots, the treatment for the RSV, if she were to contract it, would be much worse than those 3 shots. Even though we aren't in RSV season, it's just around the corner, most likely before those 3 shots are up it will be RSV season.

Jessica - posted on 08/12/2010

I would recommend the shot!! my insurance didnt cover it and i thought my daughter wouldnt be at risk i never took her out unless she had a dr appt well at a month old she got rsv she was soo sick and hospitalized for 2 months her oxygen level was at 70 % when i took her to the ER rsv can be very dangerous and deadly expecially to preemies! she was on oxygen and in the hospital for what seemed like forever it was pitiful if you can prevent that i would definatly !!! you dont want to haveto go threw that !! best of luck hope your baby stays happy and healthy!!

Beth - posted on 08/12/2010

My son had the shots. Only he started getting them in November and went through March. Because of his weight he was getting two each time. He hardly got sick at all last winter and never got RSV. Your doctor can explain all the benifits and the risks. You can always get a second opinion if you still do want to do this or still have questions.

Amanda - posted on 08/11/2010

I wouldn't really be worried about RSV at this time of the year, but it is really worth it if you might be exposed to it any time soon. No one even mentioned it to us and we were back in the hospital within a month and he was nearly full term at that point. The shot is WAY better than having to deal with RSV. I was more scared then than I was in the NICU. Please consider it. It was very painful to re-live the horrors of watching your baby struggle just to draw a breath. We almost lost him.

Becky - posted on 08/10/2010

My son was born in 2008 at 32 weeks, and had the flu shot and the RSV shots every month (for about 6 months through fall/winter flu season).
I'm not a big "flu shot" person. In fact, I never had the flu shot myself!
But that winter, our family was sick SIX times (4 times respiratory flu; twice stomach flu) and every time my preemie son was either completely healthy, or just barely had the sniffles!
I can't prove that was directly related to the shots, but he also had no negative reactions to them (except crying when the needle went in, of course).
So I would recommend it, because preemie's immune systems are more fragile.
Was she on oxygen? CPAP? etc? If so, I would more strongly suggest it because of their weaker lungs, but if not, she may be fine.
However, you may want to check with your insurance to be sure they're covered. My insurance said that they covered the shots for preemies born up to 32 weeks (and earlier).

Sharalyn - posted on 08/10/2010

Interesting. RSV is usually a fall/winter thing and there is a specified "season" (Kinda like the flu). I had a 34 weeker, and he did get the RSV shots (RSV kills every year, especially in preemies), but he was born in late September. The season that year didn't start until November, so that was when he got his first shot. Then it was monthly until the end of the season, which ended early that year in April. Usually it is an October-May thing.

Schmoopy - posted on 08/10/2010

Preemies are extremely susceptible to viruses - and RSV affects a baby's respiratory system. Since preemies' lungs are usually not fully developed or damaged, anything that affects respiratory is extremely dangerous. That's why your doc is advising you to do the RSV shots.

I did it for my 29-weeker. And in her 2nd winter, I fought for our insurance to cover them again.

Sometimes you can get a nurse to come to your home to give the shot - that's much better than going to a doc's office or a clinic, where your baby is exposed to viruses like RSV!

Susan - posted on 08/09/2010

absolutely necessary! They started giving them the year after my daughter was born and many of my friends got them for their preemies and none of those children got RSV. My daughter got RSV at 9 months and nearly had to be rehospitalized, ended up developing Asthma and was on inhaled steriods for 2 years. The shots are definitely worth it!

Michelle - posted on 08/09/2010

I would recommend them. My 3rd child was a preemie and he didn't get the first shot right away. We left the NICU and 8 days later we were back b/c he had RSV. It was very scary! He was at children't hospital for another week and we had to keep him away from everyone for a week after we got home. I know they are very expensive shots, but our insurance covered it bc he was a preemie.

Jessica - posted on 08/07/2010

Jenn would you happen to have any information on that assistance program for the shots? My insurance wont cover the shots for her at this time. What is that blood test they can do to see if the baby is no longer at risk for RSV? I hadnt heard of that before.

Jenn - posted on 08/07/2010

They are expensive shots but some insurances will cover them for babies with compromised immune systems. We got them for our daughter (born 25 wks) last season. There are also assistance programs if you qualify to help with the cost.

Jo - posted on 08/07/2010

My son had RSV - it's really bad! I'd get the shots. My son was a 28 weeker and it almost killed him at 2yrs old.

Donna - posted on 08/06/2010

GET THESE SHOTS, even with the shots she can still get rsv but trust me they help Chase was about 9 months old when he got it and luckily he had been on the shots, but i can tell you even with the shots it was the absolute worst case of the snots i have ever seen or had. it resembled pulling spagetti noodles out of his nose. he did great though, didnt spend one day in the hospital which given he was a preemie was amazing, i still think i owe that fact to the shots.

Kelly - posted on 08/06/2010

my daughter received 1 RSV shot/month from nov 09-march 10...our insurance had to approve them as they are VERY expensive however she was easily approved since she was born @ 27 wks and was in the NICU for 62 days...the NICU staff highly recommended them as did her pediatrician so anything that would help prevent her from going back, we did :) she cried after each shot for a couple of minutes but after 10-15 min of monitoring her, we were free to go (they check for any reactions)...each shot is based on weight so the heavier they are, the more the dose.

Serena - posted on 08/06/2010

Does anyone know how long these shots have been around because my oldest son was hospitalized for his RSV and nobody ever mentioned after we left about getting these shots. My younger son got RSV twice and luckily recovered quickly with the help of antibiotics but it would have saved me a lot of worry if I had known sooner. My oldest is three almost four and I hadnt heard of this until I joined this group.
But I definitely want my daughter to start in Oct. They said in Florida the season starts then and the shots wont be available til then at least thru our medical.

Cheryl - posted on 08/06/2010

I would get the shots, I am an EMT and my son was born early and he spent four days on a vent and 8 more on high flow oxygen in the NICU. RSV can be very dangerous to babies, especially premies. A lot of the time RSV can put a baby in the hospital for days and sometimes its deadly. I would especially get it if your child goes to day care, or is around other kids..we got it because my husband and I are EMTs and are exposed to all kinds of things and we didn't want to take a chance. Deffinatly do your research on the vaccine. I hope that this is helpful to you.

Pamela - posted on 08/05/2010

The synagis shots (RSV) will help your chances of your child going back into the hosipital. Most insurances will pay for 12 months of the shots. The shots do not have side effects and are needed every 30 days. She will cry for a few minutes, but then it will be fine. I highly recommend the shots, per my Dr's request we extended my daughter's shots to 19 months. My cousin's full term baby got RSV and ended up in the hospital. I think it is stated that 90 some percent of kids will have RSV by 2.

Christina - posted on 08/05/2010

You should get the shot cuz i didnt think my daughter was in great risk of getting rsv either but i had them give her the shots anyways and i am glad i did cuz she caught rsv a month later and they told me if i didnt let them give her the shot a month ago she would be died today and my son already died on me so please let her get the shots it could save her life

Susan - posted on 08/05/2010

I highly recomend you do the shots..my son was a full term baby that got RSV at a month old. We almost lost him because he wasn't able to fight the virus and ended up on a vent. Now he has alot of pulmonary issues due to being on the vent for so long.
I hope this helps in making your decision!

Kenda - posted on 08/04/2010

my son had these done cause he has ni immune system but after the first year they run blood and said he was good and didnt need them anymore.its was a good idea though

Sarah - posted on 08/04/2010

My daughter was extremely preemie and got the Synergis Shots (RSV) while she was in the NICU which was during cold and flu season and then she's had them the past 2 cold and flu seasons (she's only 19 months.) They started to not give it to her last season and she ended up with RSV the end of October so she got the shots from November through May, and never had another instance of RSV. We are planning to try not giving it to her again this year and hope that her lungs are strong enough, but if she gets it in October/November again she'll go on the shots for the durration of the flu season. I can tell you that she never had any reactions to it and I am actually greatfull for it. But you have to decide on your own. Here is the site for synergis http://www.synagis.com/ so you can make an informed decision. Also if you have any other questions feel free to send me a message.

Alicia - posted on 08/04/2010

I think i just needed to educate myself on RSV i spent hours looking things up online and i do believe ill take the shots. $2,000?! My god! This world is so screwed, the shots can be life saving yet an insurance doesnt cover them? And theyre made so inexcesible unless you are rich. Ridiculous.

Thank you both for your replies♥ My baby girl's lungs were mature at birth, no distress thankfully though she did spend 13 days in the NICU. We life in Florida also but i do believe ill take the shots. It is whats best for her and i want her to have every advantage in life. Thats our job as Mommies♥

Thank you, and I hope you and your beautiful babes are doing well♥♥

Erica - posted on 08/03/2010

I would strongly recommend the Synagis shots! Ava 29 wkr has been getting them for 2 years and even though she has gotten RSV the shot gave her immune system a step up to fighting it! Ava has BPD/CLD so RSV is seriously dangerous for her, but I have it seen take down totally healthy term babies. But that being said its your baby and only you and your doctor should decide whats best for her ;)

Jessica - posted on 08/03/2010

Supposedly RSV season is very low right now. I live in Florida were its supposed to be year long but at this time its supposed to be less than 10%. Since they are preemies theyre lungs are not as mature as a full terms, so if they get RSVthey would basically end up in the hospital because theyre immune system isnt ready for it, it can even happen to full term babies. They had recommended the shots to me but I wasnt able to get them because the insurance wouldnt cover the $2000 shots. Im extra careful around kids and sick people because I dont want her to get sick. The doctor may recomend it but the insurance may not cover it anyway, if it did I would take it. Hope this helps.