There Are Shortages Due To High Demand For New RSV Shots

Pfizer's Abyrsvo is the first maternal vaccine to shield infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), following FDA clearance and CDC recommendation. According to recent studies by the business, a large-scale use of the shot might save hundreds of millions of dollars in annual costs and drastically lower the number of infant hospitalizations. According to projections shared by the drugmaker ahead of the annual IDWeek meeting, widespread adoption of the vaccine could reduce annual hospitalizations by half, reduce ER visits by 31.8%, and reduce outpatient clinic visits by 32.2% among the 3.7 million U.S. babies under one year old.

The cost to obtain RSV vaccinations is currently a major issue, coming in at around $500 per dosage. Although most insurance plans should pay for the shot, providers must order the shot before they can be sure of their reimbursement amount. That has led to a great deal of annoyance. Pediatricians are upset that any delays in obtaining the vaccinations during the pregnancy period might eliminate the opportunity to provide the vaccinations to pregnant women.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended federal leaders provide support so the shots can be administered widely and equitably.

The RSV vaccination program is apparently encountering obstacles due to infrastructure and cost concerns. According to a recent Pfizer study, widespread use of the company's maternal RSV vaccine could drastically lower the number of newborn hospitalizations. Additionally, two anthropologists are challenging accepted notions regarding the "1918 flu". Using skeletal narratives, two researchers, one from the University of Colorado Boulder and the other from McMaster University in Canada, are challenging accepted knowledge of the 1918 "flu" epidemic.