Why the new RSV drug isn’t available

Plus more health news | Email not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [Health Matters]( [Why the new RSV drug isn’t available, and what parents need to know]( By Alice Park Senior Health Correspondent Last year, RSV sent thousands of babies to the hospital—but this year was supposed to be different. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new antibody drug, nirsevimab (sold under the brand name Beyfortus), which babies would get to protect them from infection. But in late October, just as the RSV season was getting started, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) alerted doctors that the drug was in short supply. I called a bunch of pediatricians around the country, who said that most babies are not at high risk of developing complications because of RSV. That means parents can protect them by keeping them away from sick people and crowded situations, and by washing their hands often. But having the drug could reduce infections and complications from the disease. Here’s what the doctors shared about why doses are so hard to get, and what options they're offering worried parents: - Because nirsevimab is recommended for any baby up to eight months old by the time they hit their first RSV season, which runs from November to March, there is a backlog of babies, born as far back as March, who are eligible to get the shot. Their parents are showing up all at once for their dose, which is stretching supply. - The CDC is recommending that scarce doses are used for the highest risk babies, which includes preemies, those under six months old, and those with heart or lung conditions. - This year, the FDA approved a vaccine for pregnant women that protects newborns from the day they're born. Doctors recommend anyone giving birth in the coming months get vaccinated between the 32nd and 36th weeks of pregnancy; that way, their babies won’t need to get nirsevimab. [READ MORE]( Share This Story What Else to Read [What to Know About Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in Kids]( By Markham Heid The condition is rare in kids, yet experts say it's one of the leading causes of death in young athletes. [Read More »]( [These Are the Best and Worst Cooking Oils for Your Health]( By Alexandra Sifferlin Not all oils are created equal. (Originally published in 2018.) [Read More »]( [Does It Matter Which COVID-19 Booster Shot You Get?]( By Alice Park With a new booster available, it’s time to look at whether switching up your shots makes a difference in your immunity. [Read More »]( [6 Ways to Tap Into Nostalgia—and Why You Should]( By Angela Haupt How to tap into nostalgia to feel more connected to other people, find meaning in life, and build self-esteem. [Read More »]( [7 Signs You're Dealing With a Passive-Aggressive Person]( By Jeffrey Kluger And the best ways to respond. (Originally published in 2017.) [Read More »]( ONE LAST READ [Apple's Quixotic Health Quest]( The world’s most valuable company has been on a fraught, decade-long mission to become the world’s greatest health-care organization. Mark Gurman and Drake Bennett, reporting for Bloomberg, walk through the myriad setbacks of Apple’s health effort—and lay out the next big bets the tech giant is now making in order to not give up on that vision. [Read More »]( If you were forwarded this and want to sign up to receive it daily, [click here](. Today's newsletter was written by Alice Park and Elijah Wolfson, and edited by Angela Haupt. [Want more from TIME? Sign up for our other newsletters.]( [Subscribe to TIME]( TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Connect with TIME via [Facebook]( | [Twitter]( | [Newsletters]( [UNSUBSCRIBE]( [PRIVACY POLICY]( [YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS]( TIME Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508 Questions? Contact health@time.com Copyright © 2023 TIME USA, LLC. All rights reserved.