EBB 415 - What is RSV? with the EBB Research Team

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is an extremely common respiratory virus, but it can sometimes lead to serious illness for newborns and infants. In this episode, we cover what parents and birth professionals know about RSV and the options available for prevention.

Dr. Rebecca Dekker and Dr. Sara Ailshire walk through the basics of RSV, including how it spreads, why some infants become seriously ill, and how RSV patterns change throughout the year. They also discuss the history of RSV vaccine development and explain how advances in research led to the prevention options available today for children, adults, and birthing people.

(03:04) Understanding the evidence and conversation around RSV prevention

(05:03) What is RSV? Vaccines, immunization, antibody injections, and RSV symptoms

(10:29) RSV in infancy: Risk factors, hospitalization, and seasonal patterns

(14:12) How to prevent RSV

(16:17) History of RSV vaccine development

(20:54) RSV vaccine recommendations and prevention options for pregnancy and infancy

For a full list of resources and references, visit ebbirth.com/415.

For more information about Evidence Based Birth and a crash course on evidence based care, visit www.ebbirth.com. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube! Ready to learn more? Grab an EBB Podcast Listening Guide or read Dr. Dekker's book, "Babies Are Not Pizzas: They're Born, Not Delivered!" If you want to get involved at EBB, join our Professional membership (scholarship options available) and get on the wait list for our EBB Instructor program. Find an EBB Instructor here, and click here to learn more about the EBB Childbirth Class.