Frequently Asked Questions About RSV Immunization for Children 19 Months and Younger

Nirsevimab (Beyfortus) is a long-acting monoclonal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) antibody that prevents severe RSV disease. Although both monoclonal antibodies and vaccines provide protection through immunization, the way they provide immunity is different. Nirsevimab provides RSV antibodies directly to the recipient (passive immunization) while vaccines stimulate the recipient’s immune system, including production of antibodies (active immunization).

Nirsevimab is recommended for infants younger than age 8 months who are born shortly before or are entering their first RSV season (typically fall through spring) if

• The mother did not receive RSV vaccine during pregnancy.
• The mother’s RSV vaccination status is unknown.
• The infant was born within 14 days of maternal RSV vaccination.

Except in rare circumstances, nirsevimab is not needed for most infants younger than age 8 months who are born 14 or more days after their mother received RSV vaccine during pregnancy (see section on special population and situations).

A dose of nirsevimab is also recommended for some children aged 8 through 19 months who are at increased risk for severe RSV and who are entering their second RSV season. The following children aged 8 through 19 months are recommended to get a dose when entering their second RSV season:

• Children with chronic lung disease of prematurity who required medical support (chronic corticosteroid therapy, diuretic therapy, or supplemental oxygen) any time during the 6-month period before the start of the second RSV season
• Children with severe immunocompromise
• Children with cystic fibrosis who have either 1) manifestations of severe lung disease (previous hospitalization for pulmonary exacerbation in the first year of life or abnormalities on chest imaging that persist when stable), or 2) weight-for-length <10th percentile
• American Indian or Alaska Native children

Children aged 8 months and older who do not meet any of the criteria listed above are not recommended to receive nirsevimab.

For more information, see Use of Nirsevimab for the Prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease Among Infants and Young Children: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Children at increased risk for severe RSV disease can receive nirsevimab during their first RSV season if 8 through 11 months. For example, an infant at increased risk for severe RSV disease who was born in April and who did not receive nirsevimab until December (at 8 months of age), nirsevimab is recommended.  Although optimal timing of administration is just before the start of the RSV season, nirsevimab may be administered until the end of the RSV season if nirsevimab had not been given during that season.

Children at increased risk for severe RSV disease are recommended to receive nirsevimab if all the following apply:

• They are younger than age 20 months on the day of immunization
• The day of immunization is either shortly before or during RSV season (typically October through March for most of the continental United States)
• They have not previously received a total of two doses of nirsevimab. Only one dose is recommended each RSV season except for children undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass label (fda.gov)
• They meet at least one of the following criteria:
  • Chronic lung disease of prematurity who required medical support (chronic corticosteroid therapy, diuretic therapy, or supplemental oxygen) any time during the 6-month period before the start of the RSV season
  • Severe immunocompromise
  • Cystic fibrosis who have either
    • Manifestations of severe lung disease (previous hospitalization for pulmonary exacerbation in the first year of life or abnormalities on chest imaging that persist when stable)
      Or
    • Weight-for-length <10th percentile
  • American Indian and Alaska Native children

Only one dose of nirsevimab is recommended for each season. Each dose of nirsevimab provides protection for at least 5 months, and a second dose of nirsevimab is not recommended to be given within 5 months of the first dose.

Nirsevimab is not recommended for any child who is age 20 months and older. Children ages 20 months and older have likely already experienced two RSV seasons and been infected with RSV, and thus are less likely to benefit from nirsevimab.

Yes, the child‘s age on the day nirsevimab is administered should be used to determine if the child is eligible for immunization. For example, a healthy child who was aged <8 months at the beginning of the RSV season but did not receive nirsevimab and is now aged ≥8 months and whose family is requesting nirsevimab during the RSV season is not recommended to receive nirsevimab.

• Age less than 8 months
  • 50 mg for infants weighing <5 kg [<11 lb]
  • 100 mg for infants weighing ≥5 kg [≥ 11 lb]
• Age 8 through 19 months:
  • 200 mg, administered as two 100 mg injections

Nirsevimab is contraindicated in children and infants with a history of severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose of nirsevimab or to a product component.

While neither a contraindication nor a precaution, nirsevimab should be used with caution in infants and children with bleeding disorders. Use a 23-gauge or smaller caliber needle and steady pressure to the site for 1-2 minutes.

See Vaccinating Persons with Increased Bleeding Risk and nirsevimab package insert for additional information.

In accordance with CDC General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization, children who have a moderate or severe acute illness should usually wait until they recover before getting nirsevimab.

While the timing of the onset and duration of RSV season may vary, nirsevimab may be administered October through the end of March in most of the continental United States. The timing of the onset, peak, and decline of RSV activity vary geographically, and providers may adjust timing of administration based on guidance from public health authorities (e.g., CDC, health departments) or regional medical centers. For example, health care providers in areas with known early RSV transmission may choose to begin administration of nirsevimab before October (e.g., Florida). Although optimal timing of administration is just before the start of the RSV season, nirsevimab may also be administered during the RSV season to infants and children who are age-eligible.

Potential administration timing for most of the continental United States during a typical RSV season (e.g., an RSV season that follows seasonality seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic).

Providers should use every opportunity to administer nirsevimab to eligible infants. This includes administration during well-child visits as well as other visits to ensure no missed opportunities for immunization.

Tropical climates may have RSV circulation patterns that differ from most of the continental United States or are unpredictable. Locations with tropical climates include southern Florida, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, and US-Affiliated Pacific Islands. In Alaska, RSV circulation patterns are less predictable, and the duration of RSV season is often longer than the national average. Providers in these jurisdictions should consult state, local, or territorial guidance on timing of nirsevimab administration.

Infants are recommended for nirsevimab if they meet the following criteria:

• They are aged <8 months on the day of administration.
• Either mother did not receive RSV vaccine during pregnancy more than 14 days prior to birth OR maternal RSV vaccine status is unknown
• The day of immunization is shortly before or during RSV season (typically October through March for most of the continental United States)
• They have not received a previous dose of nirsevimab during that RSV season

Because the risk of severe disease is highest during the first months after birth, nirsevimab is recommended within 1 week of birth for infants born shortly before or during the RSV season (typically October through March for most of the continental United States).

All infants aged <8 months at the time of immunization who have not received a dose of nirsevimab are recommended to receive nirsevimab when entering the RSV season, including those who may have been born towards the end of the previous RSV season.

Healthcare providers may choose to give nirsevimab before the start of RSV season (typical season begins October in most of the continental United States) if they feel that the child may not return for a visit when nirsevimab would be recommended. For example, a clinician may choose to give nirsevimab to an infant who presented for care in September who has not yet received a dose of nirsevimab and may be unlikely to return for a visit in October or November. Nirsevimab has been shown to protect against severe RSV disease for at least 5 months, and the ideal timing of administration may differ depending on the clinical situation.

Nirsevimab recommendations are the same regardless of prior RSV infection or RSV-associated hospitalization. Reinfection with RSV, even during the same season, can occur. Children who are moderately or severely ill with or without fever including those who have known current RSV infection should defer nirsevimab until recovery from the acute illness.

Nirsevimab does not interfere with rapid antigen detection RSV diagnostic assays or reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) that employ commercially available antibodies targeting antigenic site I, II, or IV on the RSV fusion (F) protein. When clinical observations are consistent with RSV infection and immunological assay results are negative, it is recommended to confirm using an RT-PCR-based assay.

Yes. In accordance with CDC General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization, simultaneous administration of nirsevimab with age-appropriate vaccines is recommended. Nirsevimab is not expected to interfere with the immune response to other vaccines. On the basis of limited data from clinical trials, coadministration of nirsevimab with routine vaccines resulted in a similar rate of adverse events compared with administration of vaccines alone.

Except in rare circumstances, nirsevimab is not needed for most infants younger than age 8 months who are born 14 or more days after their mother received RSV vaccine.

Nirsevimab can be considered in rare circumstances when the healthcare provider believes the potential benefit of giving it is warranted. These circumstances include, but are not limited to:

• Infants born to pregnant people who may not mount an adequate immune response to RSV vaccination (e.g., people with immunocompromising conditions)
• Infants born to pregnant people who have medical conditions associated with reduced transplacental antibody transfer (e.g., people living with HIV infection)
• Infants who have undergone cardiopulmonary bypass or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), leading to loss of maternal antibodies
• Infants with substantial increased risk for severe RSV disease (e.g., hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease, intensive care admission with a requirement of oxygen at discharge)

There are no studies of infants who have been given nirsevimab after their mother received an RSV vaccine. However, the available evidence does not suggest a higher risk for adverse events in that situation. Children and adults (including pregnant people) are frequently exposed to circulating RSV viruses. Following RSV infection, pregnant people produce antibodies that are transferred to infants across the placenta, and many of the babies in the nirsevimab study had maternal RSV antibody. CDC and FDA will monitor safety of both products.

In accordance with, General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization preterm infants (infants born before 37 weeks’ gestation), regardless of birth weight, should receive nirsevimab at their chronological age using the same guidance for full-term infants and young children.

Preterm infants discharged from the hospital during the RSV season, including those with prolonged birth hospitalizations, should receive nirsevimab shortly before or promptly after discharge.

Because a single dose of nirsevimab provides protection for 5 months, children who received nirsevimab should not receive palivizumab during the same RSV season.

Additional information on considerations for 2023-24 RSV season regarding palivizumab and nirsevimab administration to high-risk infants during the same RSV season is provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Children undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass should receive an additional dose of nirsevimab after surgery during RSV season if age-eligible. label (fda.gov)

First RSV season:

• If cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is performed within 90 days after receiving nirsevimab, give an additional dose based on body weight at the time of the additional dose (50mg if less than 5kg and 100mg if 5kg or greater).
• If cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is performed more than 90 days after receiving nirsevimab, give an additional dose of 50 mg regardless of body weight.

Second RSV season:

• If cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is performed within 90 days after receiving nirsevimab, give an additional dose of 200 mg regardless of body weight.
• If cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is performed more than 90 days after receiving nirsevimab, give an additional dose of 100 mg regardless of body weight.

Adverse reactions might occur after administration of nirsevimab alone; these reactions may be reported to MedWatch online (https://www.fda.gov/medwatch), by fax, by mail, or by contacting FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adverse reactions might occur after the coadministration of nirsevimab with a vaccine; these reactions should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), and reports should specify that the patient received nirsevimab on the VAERS form Specifically, in Section 9: “Prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements, or herbal remedies being taken at the time of vaccination.” Reports can be submitted to VAERS online, by fax, or by mail. Additional information about VAERS is available by telephone (1-800-822-7967) or online (https://vaers.hhs.gov). When adverse reactions that occur after the coadministration of nirsevimab with a vaccine are reported to VAERS, additional reporting of the same adverse reactions to MedWatch is not necessary.