RICHMOND, VA —The Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) encourage pregnant people and those 60 and older to talk with their health care provider about scheduling an appointment to receive ABRYSVO, an injectable vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) that can prevent associated lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD).
ABRYSVO is approved for use at 32 through 36 weeks gestational age of pregnancy and can prevent LRTD and severe LRTD caused by RSV in infants from birth through 6 months of age. The FDA has also approved ABRYSVO for the prevention of LRTD caused by RSV in individuals 60 years of age and older under a shared clinical decision-making model. Individuals who are pregnant or who are over 60 should talk with their doctor before scheduling a vaccination appointment.
“These vaccines not only help the most vulnerable to stay protected, but they also benefit all of us by reducing demand on our hospital and healthcare resources,” said RHHD Nurse Supervisor, Joanna Cirillo. “If a pregnant person gets vaccinated, their infant will be protected from RSV.”
RSV is a highly contagious virus that causes respiratory infections in individuals of all age groups. People who are at increased risk include very young infants, premature babies, young children with lung or heart diseases, older adults, and people with a weakened immune system. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs) in children younger than one year of age in the United States. Symptoms of RSV infection usually include runny nose, decrease in appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever, and wheezing. In very young infants with RSV, the only symptoms may be irritability, decreased activity, and breathing difficulties.
Residents can visit https://www.abrysvo.com/find-a-vaccine to search for current vaccine appointment availability at pharmacies and health care providers. The vaccine will be available for insured and uninsured persons at RHHD Cary St. and Henrico East clinics starting in January and for the duration of the winter months. Residents can call 804-205-3501 set up an appointment at an RHHD clinic.
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Thursdays, starting Jan. 4 RHHD, Cary Street Clinic 400 E. Cary St. Richmond, VA 23219 |
Tuesdays, starting Jan. 9 RHHD, Henrico East Clinic 1400 N. Laburnum Ave. Richmond, VA 23223 |
Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) are sister public health agencies serving our connected communities. Our mission is to protect health, champion equity, and partner to address local needs.