STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

St. Luke’s Wood River is now administering RSV vaccines for adults over 60 years of age, mother who are between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant during RSV season and for infants who are less than 8 months of age at the onset of RSV season.

It is also administering them to those ages 8 to 19 months who are at high risk of severe RSV.

ADULTS

St. Luke’s is administering the Abrysvo RSV vaccine to those between 60 and 64. Recipients should send a message through MyChart about receiving the vaccine.

Those 65 and older should schedule at a non-St. Luke’s retail pharmacy as Abrysvo is covered under Medicare Part D.

UNBORN BABIES

St. Luke’s is giving Abrysvo to mothers 32 to 36 weeks pregnant during RSV season. Women should consult their OB-GYN providers about receiving the vaccine.

BABIES

St. Luke’s is administering Beyfortus RSV antibody immunizations for babies born during RSV season, or those who are less than 8 months of age at the onset of the season and those ages 8 through 19 months at high risk of severe RSV. The produce manufacturer is predicting supply shortages during this first season of Beyfortus production.

RSV causes acute respiratory tract infections in people of all ages and can cause severe illness and even death in infants and children with certain health conditions. Between 58,000 and80,000 children under the age of 5 and up to 3 percent of children in their first year of life are hospitalized due to RSV infection each year in the United States.

“Per information from the American Academy of Pediatrics, most children will get an RSV infection before the age of 2 years, and 20 percent to 30 percent of children infected will develop a lower respiratory tract infection, such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia,” said Scott Snyder, MD, Neonatologist at  St. Luke’s Health System. “At St. Luke's Children's Hospital, RSV infections are the most common reason for admission to our Pediatric wards during the winter months, and often occur in infants who were previously in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit.”

COVID-19

An updated COVID-19 vaccine formulated for better protection against newer circulating COVID-19 strains is also being administered by St. Luke’s.

Flu

You can get a flu shot in many places – local retail pharmacies, your primary care provider, St. Luke’s, or other local health care providers.

Prevention 

Many respiratory viruses can be contagious even before symptoms start so practicing good hygiene at all times can help prevent disease spread. You can protect yourself and others by:

• Covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or shirt sleeve.
• Washing your hands.
• Sanitizing surfaces and objects.
• Masking.
• Staying away from people who are sick or keeping physical distance.
• Getting tested.
• Receiving a prescription for an antiviral treatment if you have COVID-19 or the flu.
• Boosting your immune system health with regular physical activity, a healthy diet, fresh air every day, and a healthy amount of sleep each night. 
• Getting the appropriate vaccination/booster for seasonal viruses including flu, RSV, and COVID-19.