Ah the irony

[phrogger]

When my son was born he was in the nicu with respiritory distress. After a week and some time on a vent, he was released. We took him to his ped for the normal check ups and of course, the talks about vaccines came up. I explained I was not vaccinating and why I wasn't. She didn't agree with me at all and felt I was making a mistake. I did however ask about the RSV vaccine and asked what information she had on it because I wanted to research it. The neonatalogist had told me I needed to be more cautious about RSV because of my sons lungs etc. So when I asked the ped, she told me "he isn't at risk for RSV, doesn't meet the criteria, and doesn't need it." Then she continued to push the other vaccines. Polio, hep b etc.

What is interesting is my son now probably has RSV, the new ped is treating him and was glad to know he hadn't had any vaccines because it meant he looked at all possible options rather then just any typical ones, but the original ped actually didn't want to discuss a vaccine for a disease that my son probably has, but wanted him to get vaccinated for ones he will probably never get.

For what it is worth, he is fine, it was a little scary but fine and I am glad he didn't get the RSV vaccine and we probably wouldn't have ended up getting it anyway, but I just thought how ironic. She didn't want to discuss one that I was actually interested in, but wanted to push ones I clearly said I was against.

[Addy's Mom]

I'm sorry your little guy got RSV. That virus absolutely sucks, and I've heard horrible things about it in super-young babies (my son was 10 months old and it was no picnic).

Having said that, the RSV vaccine is given monthly. ! Scary in itself.

[FernG]

Originally Posted by Addy's Mom

I'm sorry your little guy got RSV. That virus absolutely sucks, and I've heard horrible things about it in super-young babies (my son was 10 months old and it was no picnic).

Having said that, the RSV vaccine is given monthly. ! Scary in itself.

OP, I'm really sorry for your experience and glad that your little one is healing!

I just wanted to let you know that the RSV shot is actually an imunoglobulin - a shot made with blood from those with RSV antibodies. It isn't a vaccine and doesn't trigger an immune reaction. Vaccines attempt to expose the body to bacteria/viruses/toxoids and trigger an immune response. The reason that the RSV immunoglobulin needs to be given 1x every 2 months, is because the injected antibodies only last for 2 months. Obviously there are other risks to blood products. Many health care providers use incorrect terminology when referring to this shot, so confusion is common.

[amnesiac]

Originally Posted by FernG

OP, I'm really sorry for your experience and glad that your little one is healing!

I just wanted to let you know that the RSV shot is actually an imunoglobulin - a shot made with blood from those with RSV antibodies. It isn't a vaccine and doesn't trigger an immune reaction. Vaccines attempt to expose the body to bacteria/viruses/toxoids and trigger an immune response. The reason that the RSV immunoglobulin needs to be given 1x every 2 months, is because the injected antibodies only last for 2 months. Obviously there are other risks to blood products. Many health care providers use incorrect terminology when referring to this shot, so confusion is common.

The older IV product was from pooled human plasma but the newer product given as a shot into the muscle is not.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.or...ull/102/5/1211

[FernG]

Originally Posted by amnesiac

The older IV product was from pooled human plasma but the newer product given as a shot into the muscle is not.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.or...ull/102/5/1211

Thanks for the updated information!