Texas health officials have extended access to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunizations for infants and young children through the end of April due to sustained infection levels across the state, according to state and medical authorities.
Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory infection that can cause severe illness in infants, particularly those under seven months old. Health officials said Texas and 47 other states are continuing seasonal immunization programs after monitoring higher-than-expected activity this year.
A pediatrician with Parkland Health and medical director of its homeless outreach program, Dr. Donna Persaud, said infection levels have remained elevated compared with previous years.
Dallas County Health and Human Services data showed that at the end of March, 7.7% of RSV tests returned positive, compared with less than 4.5% during the same period last year.
Health officials said RSV immunization differs from traditional vaccines because it provides direct antibodies that offer immediate protection rather than requiring time for immune response development. Providers administer the immunization to newborns and infants, with recommendations extending up to seven months of age. Medical guidance also advises consideration for children aged eight to 19 months with underlying health conditions.
Persaud said pregnant individuals can also receive an RSV vaccine to pass antibodies to their infants before birth.
She said RSV infection rates vary year to year and that seasonal declines have not followed expected patterns this year, though she did not identify a specific cause.
RSV commonly infects most children by age two and can be contracted multiple times. Health officials said infants under one year old face the highest risk of hospitalization from the virus due to underdeveloped immune systems.
Persaud said symptoms can include breathing difficulty, feeding problems, and heavy mucus production, and in some cases may begin with breathing pauses in infants.
Health officials urged parents to consult healthcare providers and review recommendations from organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics when considering immunization.
Persaud said common side effects include temporary fever and injection-site reactions, and she said serious adverse effects remain rare based on available data.
She said immunization is recommended for eligible infants through the end of April as the state continues to monitor RSV activity.
