RSV Resources

Immature immune systems and anatomically disadvantaged respiratory systems place infants and young children at the highest risk for serious and life-threatening illness from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other respiratory viral illnesses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 2.1 million outpatient visits among children younger than 5 years old and up to 80,000 hospitalizations in that same population each year.

RSV is a virus that typically circulates during the fall and winter every year. It often causes common cold symptoms, but it can also cause airway inflammation. Because infants and young children have weaker immune systems and smaller airways, they are most at risk for serious illness from respiratory viruses like RSV. According to the CDC, this typically leads to an estimated 2.1 million health care visits and up to 80,000 hospital stays each year for children under 5 years of age.

How does RSV spread?

Droplets from coughs or sneezes can carry RSV, making it highly contagious, especially in childcare facilities and schools.

What are symptoms of RSV?

RSV can present with a runny nose, decreased appetite, cough and/or wheezing or difficulty breathing. In very young infants, you may notice irritability and decreased activity, too. Fever doesn’t always accompany RSV.

Can RSV be prevented?

To avoid RSV and severe illness in your family, you should wash your hands and clean surfaces frequently, cover coughs, and avoid close contact with sick individuals. If you or your child become sick, stay home.

In 2023, the FDA approved and the CDC’s ACIP recommended nirsevimab (Beyfortus^®) a long-acting monoclonal antibody to protect infants during their first, and for some vulnerable children, second RSV season. A large, real world study that included over 30,00 healthy, full term babies showed an over 80% reduction in RSV disease and a 98% reduction in RSV hospitalizations among infants who received nirsevimab.

In June 2025, an additional monoclonal antibody, clesrovimab (ENFLONSIA™), was also approved for use in infants.

In general, nirsevimab and clesrovimab are recommended for infants:

less than 8 months old entering their first RSV
mother did not receive a maternal RSV vaccination or the mother’s RSV vaccination status is unknown
born less than 14 days after mother’s maternal RSV vaccination

For children in their second RSV season, nirsevimab is recommended for:

child 8-19 months who is at increased risk of severe RSV disease
child born prematurely and has chronic lung disease
child severely immunocompromised
child with cystic fibrosis and severe disease
American Indian or Alaskan Native children 8-19 months old

For infants undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass during the RSV season, an additional dose of clesrovimab is recommended as soon as the infant is stable after surgery.

For pregnant women, the FDA approved and the CDC’s ACIP recommends that the bivalent RSVpreF (ABRYSVO®) vaccine be administered between 32-36 weeks of pregnancy from September 1 through January 31. Ask your maternal health care provider for more information.

To protect against other respiratory diseases and reduce sickness in your household, you should have everyone who is 6 months and older vaccinated for influenza (flu) and COVID-19.

Provider Need to Know Info

Administering Monoclonal Antibodies for RSV in Your Practice

These safe and extremely effective monoclonal preventive antibodies are commercially available as Beyfortus^®and ENFLONSIA™. In response to providers’ questions, NAPNAP has curated available resources for your practice.

Clinical Overview of RSV
Clinical Guidance for RSV Immunizations and Vaccines
RSV Immunization Guidance for Infants and Young Children
RSV Vaccine Guidance for Pregnant Women
CDC RSV Interactive Dashboard– tracking recently reported surveillance data

Prescribing Information Specific to Nirsevimab

Beyfortus^®prescribing information
Beyfortus^® Cost and Coverage information
Cracking the Codes – provider coverage finder tool provides additional context to the coverage status of nirsevimab by state or zip look up; utilizes a partnership with third party vendors, using documented coverage policies to feed the tool and provide coverage details to providers outadted and replaced below
Standing Orders for Administering Nirsevimab RSV Preventive Antibody (Beyfortus^®, by Sanofi) to Infants and High-Risk Young Children (immunize.org)

Prescribing Information Specific to Clesrovimab

RSV Micro-learning

NAPNAP has created a series of micro-learning videos, each just five minutes, to break down a specific clinical aspect of RSV in videos that can be viewed whenever and wherever, and as often as you like. Hear from your expert colleagues with experience from primary care, pediatric pulmonology specialty, and the PICU, as they discuss aspects of RSV care and help prepare you to better serve your patients and families.

Prevention/Immunization Micro-learning Video Coming Soon.

Hear from Our Experts

On Jan. 23, 2025, NAPNAP experts Andrea Kline-Tilford, PhD, CPNP-AC/PC, FAAN and Maria Chelsea Woosley, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC/PC were featured in a radio media tour about RSV. Listen to one of their interviews.

English version

Versión en español

NAPNAP expert Karen Acevedo, MS, APRN, CPNP, recorded an audio news release about RSV and prevention for the 2025-2026 respiratory season. Click to listen.

English version

Versión en español

These expert-presented radio media tour and audio news releases are sponsored by an independent grant from Sanofi.

RSV Awareness Campaign

NAPNAP’s campaign aims to build awareness about RSV to protect vulnerable patients. NAPNAP member experts helped us explore different topics, such as identification, prevention and treatment strategies pertaining to pediatric RSV cases.