Synagis (RSV) Vaccine

[tahoe4]

Another qualification for getting Synagis is if they would be exposed to any children, such as brothers or sisters or any kind of a daycare situation before the RSV season was over. That's the only reason we qualified along with her being 6 weeks early.

Stephanie

Casey - DD born 12/25/02 at 6 weeks premature due to eclampsia
Bella - DD born 6/4/04 at 38 weeks. No complications from pre-eclampsia at all!

[samarasmom]

I read up on the RSV and the risks. I think Samara will qualify,they said that even 33-35 wkers are at a large risk for a bad RSV. Plus she has a little brother ( big to her) that is at risk AND she is in daycare. I hope she can get the vaccine. But that is up to her doc and I know that he will make the best choice for her. I will let yall know next wk

Sandra 23
Michael Abron ( fiance)
Elijah Kristopher Michael Abron ( 43 wks no complications) 5/6/99
Isaiah Liam Abron ( 37 wks PE and Preterm labor) 3/25/02
Samara Juliyana Abron ( 35 wks PIH and poss PE ) 7/21/04

[samarasmom]

Her doc would love for her to get the vaccine BUT her insurance will not approve because she is not 8 wks early. That is so stupid to me. SHe is still a preemie and in a high risk catagory. I may fight the Insuracne company on this. I would love for her to get this to help her. I cant stand the thought of her being that sick

Sandra 23
Michael Abron ( fiance)
Elijah Kristopher Michael Abron ( 43 wks no complications) 5/6/99
Isaiah Liam Abron ( 37 wks PE and Preterm labor) 3/25/02
Samara Juliyana Abron ( 35 wks PIH and poss PE ) 7/21/04

[stacyc]

Sandra

My girls we're born at 24wks and weighed 1.8lbs and 15ozs (4mos in the NICU). Before ins will cover the RSV shot, she would have had to be less than 1500g and considered a preemie being born earlier than 35wks. She would also have to have a lot of breathing problems within the last yr, meaning going to and from the ER and or Neb treatments at home. My girls did get the shot the first yr but this yr they will not get it since they haven't had any problems this last yr. Just keep everyone's hands washed and use lots of hand santizer and try not to go many places. That's what we do.

Olivia & Elizabeth
24weekers
1/27/03

[samarasmom]

Yeah that is what the doc suggested. He wants her to get it also since she is having breating trouble. He put her on the apnea monitor and he will get a reading next month so well see if that makes a difference or not. She probably wont since she is doing so good otherwise and is growing like a weed. 5 pds in 2 months.WHew

Sandra 23
Michael Abron ( fiance)
Elijah Kristopher Michael Abron ( 43 wks no complications) 5/6/99
Isaiah Liam Abron ( 37 wks PE and Preterm labor) 3/25/02
Samara Juliyana Abron ( 35 wks PIH and poss PE ) 7/21/04

[maxs mom]

Max had RSV shots his first year. And surprisingly the Pedi wants him to have shots this year too. He hasn't had any breathing problems in the last 6 months, but the Pedi said she will put the fear of god in the insurance company that if they don't give him the shots, he will end up in the hospital, and that will cost them a lot more. We have really good insurance, so I don't think it will be a problem getting the shot. And I read some where if the child has a heart defect (Max has pulmonary stenosis, narrowing in a valve) they can also qualify. So maybe he qualifies under that condition. Either way, it is your doctor who needs to work with the insurance company to get this covered, they are always more effective.

As for the original question. Max never had an allergic reaction to the shot, and we have never had to wait 20 mins after the shot to see if he had a reaction. My understanding was the wait after was only during the early days of Synagis, so I am surprised to hear so many of you have to wait. We do have to wait the 20 mins after max is weighed, but we usually spend this time feeding him. And technically, the shot isn't a vaccine. It is considered more like a flu shot. It releases antibodies into the system that fight the virus. It lasts for 30 days max, so most babies are on a 28 day schedule so they avoid hitting weekends on the shot schedule. Your baby can still get RSV even if they have the shot, but the symptoms are usually less than they would be without them. And as someone mentioned, the year after your baby finishes the shots, a parent needs to be extra deligent. Because they baby has not had the virus on their own, they have not made any antibodies on there own, so they are at an increased risk of getting RSV a little worse than other children who are not preemies. I say this only to remind parents to be cautious when there child is sick with any breathing difficulties and be sure to get them to the pedi as soon as they suspect something is not right.

Kara (34)
DH, John (36)
Max, 1/20/03, 25 wks, 1lb. 3ozs. (IUGR), severe PE
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/m/mightymax/

#2 is on the way, EDD at 36.5 weeks is 3/24/04

[youtan]

RSV shots. Both my boys had them. It was a HUGE fight with the insurance company getting Jonathan shots. He was born at 32 weeks so barely met the minimum requirements. He only took the shots his first year. My first child met ALL the requirements and had the shots, I think for 3 years. We were lucky and neither boy ever had RSV.

Tanya
Nathanial, 5, PE/HELLP 27 wks 1 lb 10 oz
Jonathan, 2, PIH/low fluid 32 wks 4 lb 8 oz

[hannahsmom]

Hannah had Synegis shots her first two winters. She was born in August and released from the NICU in December, in the middle of RSV season, so she got them I think from October - April or May. Then the next winter she got them too, just as a precaution. I can't remember any side effects, except the ridiculous price! I think we had to pay a $25 copay for each one - that beats the actual price tag of $1700 per shot!!

Suzanne
Mommy to Miss Hannah Rose
26.5 weeker born 8/24/01
severe pre-e & IUGR
1 pound, 1 ounce
12 inches
Miracles do happen!

[iansmom]

Ian got synagis from April 02 - April 03 and then Sept 03 through April 04. No side effects. He was hospitalized with RSV in January 03, but had a mild case thanks to the vaccine. And, as for the cost - thank goodness for insurance & a good pediatrician. My insurance wouldn't pay for off-season doses (May-Sept), so his doctor gave it to him for free when he first came home in April 02. That was when we knew we had picked the right doctor!

Ian 12/26/01 - 26 weeks P/E & HELLP
Drew 6/22/04 - 36w 6d Chronic hypertension & IUGR

[meg hanrahan]

Isabella had synegis shots from December 2002 through April 2003. She didn't have any adverse reactions to the shots. Yes, the shots are expensive, but thankfully we didn't have to cover any of it. I'm not sure what our doctor said to our insurance to get it covered but there wasn't ever any issue of us paying. We do have really good insurance though so that could be it too. REgardless of cost, you should have the shots because you do not want your preemie getting sick!

Meg
Isabella 11/11/2002 (34 weeks, severe pe)
Katie 4/21/2004 (full term, no pe)