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ILLINOIS (WCIA) — RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common, cold-like respiratory illness. Last year, vaccinations were approved for those most vulnerable to it. However, county health departments across Illinois have struggled to keep them in supply.
While supplies are limited, this doesn’t mean the vaccine is unobtainable, especially for those in more vulnerable categories.
Symptoms are usually mild for most people, but for others — especially babies and older adults — RSV can have severe effects. Over the course of 2023, RSV vaccinations became available to those age 60 or older, infants and expecting mothers.
In October, the CDC announced a shortage of RSV immunization for infants and young toddlers. In following with the CDC’s recommendation of prioritizing RSV protection for infants, as well as their Vaccines for Children program, the IDPH provides local health departments with RSV shots for eligible children.
James Leach, Public Information Officer with the Illinois Department of Public Health, said that while it is good to finally give people ways to protect from RSV, the effort hasn’t come without challenges.
Leach said the IDPH’s distribution of these infant RSV vaccines is determined by county birthrates. He added that the allocation could also be adjusted according to need or demand within the county.
As for adults, the amount of state-provided adult immunizations remains small as compared to young children’s.
Leach said the IDPH can offer select providers immunizations for those uninsured or underinsured, but it is otherwise expensive for local health departments to keep them in stock.
“To provide RSV vaccines to adults, local health departments would need to pay for them upfront and then seek reimbursement from Medicaid or private insurance,” he said.
As a result, many providers steer their patients to private pharmacies and chains such as Walgreens, CVS or Walmart. Leach said these locations are usually cheaper options for obtaining the vaccine and tend to have a larger supply than local health departments.
“Most private pharmacies, including chains, already have vaccine programs for adults and reimbursement arrangements with private insurance, or can take advantage of the pharmacy benefit under Medicare Part D,” Leach said.
Leach said the IDPH expects to have a smoother distribution process in the future. In the meantime, the IDPH encourages patients to work with their health care provider on whether the RSV shot is right for them, and where to get one.
