COLUMBUS, Ohio — It's the beginning of respiratory virus season and this year, there's a new vaccine to protect infants from RSV. The shots started going out in October and now the supply is running out.
Some healthcare leaders say it's frustrating that this potentially life-saving therapy is now available, but is in limited supply.
"Yeah, it's really frustrating,” said Michael Storey, pharmacy medication use strategist at Nationwide Children's Hospital.
According to Nationwide Children's Hospital, RSV is one of the leading causes for infants to be hospitalized. Storey said ordering the vaccine has been turned off for the season- meaning no additional orders will be filled.
“And so we're trying to figure out how it is that we can use supply to best protect as many kids as possible,” he said.
The RSV vaccine for infants is a long-acting monoclonal antibody that is effective for about six months.
Doctors recommend it for babies under 8 months of age.
In a statement provided to 10TV in an email, the Ohio Department of Health said the CDC has issued a health alert with "clinical recommendations on prioritization for highest-risk infants."
The Cleveland Clinic also provided a statement which reads in part, "Due to these supply constraints, we may not be able to guarantee the availability of the drug."
This shortage has some expecting mothers taking a closer look at a separate shot that's now available for them to protect against RSV.
This vaccine works differently from the one for infants.
"The vaccine for mothers is a true vaccine, it elicits an immune response and then will allow the mom to pass on that immunity to the baby at the time of birth,” Storey said.
Healthcare leaders are urging expecting moms to talk with their doctor about their options, given the vaccine for infants may no longer be available once their child is born.
Right now, they have a supply of the RSV vaccine for infants here at Nationwide Children's Hospital but that won't be the case for long.