Challenges and Communication: New RSV Vaccine for Newborns

Uncertainties about insurance coverage are preventing some families from accessing a new shot, called Beyfortus, that can protect newborns from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV fills hospitals every winter, with up to 80,000 children under the age of 5 being hospitalized annually in the US. The shot, which reduces the risk of hospitalization by 80%, is expensive, costing about $500 per dose. Many medical practices and hospitals are unsure how to pay for it, and insurance companies have been slow to provide coverage details. While efforts are being made to expand access, the rollout of the shot may be delayed, leaving newborns vulnerable to RSV.