GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Soon, we could see cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) begin to rise in West Michigan.
Which is why doctors and health experts are encouraging people to get the RSV vaccine now. That includes. Dr. Eryn Hart from Corewell Health.
She says it’s important that pregnant women get the vaccine now because it can help protect their baby.
"When they're born, you know, if they have antibodies developed to a disease process before they themselves can get the vaccine, it just gives them that added level of protection,” said Dr. Hart.
That can happen through passive immunity, which happens when antibodies travel through the placenta.
It's recommended that the best time to get the vaccine is between 32 to 36 weeks and before RSV season, which is September through January.
Dr. Hart says the vaccine can also help protect the mom.
“Especially in moms that can have immunocompromised conditions or on immunocompromised medications, they can be at increased risk for having RSV, even in people that don't have those conditions, it is a virus that can cause upper respiratory symptoms,” said Dr. Hart.
Right now, the only RSV vaccine pregnant people can get is the Pfizer vaccine.
But there are other vaccines you can get for other diseases.
"Patients can receive all three of those medications at the same time. So when they're going to a pharmacy or their provider, they can get influenza, COVID and RSV if deemed to be in the right time period,” said Dr. Hart.
Dr. Hart says every year, 58,000 to 80,000 kids are hospitalized each year in the U.S. for RSV and 100 to 300 die from the virus.
She adds that if you received a vaccine during your last pregnancy, you do not need to get vaccinated if you are pregnant again.