Joining Forces to Help Protect Our Littlest Ones
By Kristine Santella, Associate Director of Leadership & Customer-Facing Skills – Commercial Operations
I recently took part in the Joining BeyForces brunch, where moms met to connect, share stories and learn about respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The brunch was hosted by Olympic gold-medal gymnast and mom of three, Shawn Johnson East, who shared her family’s own experience with RSV.
During the brunch, I had the opportunity to moderate a panel discussion centered on navigating new parenthood and the importance of having a support system to feel empowered and informed when making decisions regarding your baby’s health. We spoke of the confusion social media causes about parenting decisions, and the importance of turning to our babies’ doctors for this counsel.
This event let attendees talk to experts and get to know each other. One person said, “I love how there were so many different women who came together for the cause.” Healthcare providers, moms and journalists united to engage with the full landscape of ways we can help protect our babies from illness and how to access credible educational resources.
“It was wonderful to see so many women connecting, sharing experiences and bonding over their shared journey of motherhood. I learned that even moms who are familiar with RSV can still benefit from more education, especially if their children haven’t experienced it firsthand. Attendees clearly understood the importance of equipping themselves with the right resources to protect their babies, especially as RSV prevention options continue to evolve.”
- Chris Perez, RSV Consumer Marketing at Sanofi
Brunch attendees participating in a discussion
One of the topics we did a deep dive on was RSV season and the steps we can take to help protect our babies against this highly contagious virus. This topic is near and dear to my heart given my family’s experience with RSV, and it was a privilege to be joined by peers who align to my mission of spreading RSV awareness.
Another panel discussion featured a mom and influencer whose daughter was hospitalized with RSV about two years ago. She talked about how scary and uncertain that time was. Hearing her story, so reminiscent of mine, reinforced the importance of preventative options like Beyfortus® (nirsevimab-alip) 50mg and 100mg Injection as we navigate winter virus season.
Beyfortus is a prescription medicine used to help prevent a serious lung disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in:
- Newborns and babies under 1 year of age during their first RSV season.
- Children up to 24 months of age who remain at risk of severe RSV disease through their second RSV season.
Beyfortus should not be given to children with a history of serious allergic reactions to nirsevimab-alip or any of the ingredients in Beyfortus. Beyfortus may not protect all children. See below for additional Important Safety Information.
Panelists discuss Beyfortus
For those who don’t know, when my daughter Emilia was 9 months old, she contracted a lower respiratory tract infection. Within days, she was in the pediatric intensive care unit with bronchiolitis due to RSV, where she received supportive care while she fought it off. While hospitalization due to severe RSV lung infection is uncommon, it did happen to us, and was a terrifying experience for our family.
When my twin sons, Nathan and Nolan, were born in November of 2023, we were eager to immunize them with Beyfortus shortly after birth to help give them an extra layer of protection against severe RSV infection. While our household experienced our fair share of colds last winter, my now one-year-old boys never had more than a little cough or congestion.
Emilia, Nathan and Nolan.
Supporting the Beyfortus launch last summer and then being able to immunize my newborn twins with Beyfortus truly brought our RSV experience full circle. Educating fellow parents and Sanofians on RSV and Beyfortus, especially in forums like this brunch, has allowed me to turn our family’s terrible experience with RSV into something positive. In my decade at Sanofi, sharing our family’s story and raising RSV awareness has been an incredibly meaningful highlight. I hope it encourages families to discuss protection options like Beyfortus with their healthcare professionals.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Your child should not take Beyfortus if your child has a history of serious allergic reactions to nirsevimab-alip or any of the ingredients in Beyfortus.
Before your child receives Beyfortus, tell your healthcare provider about all of your child’s medical conditions, including if your child:
- has ever had a reaction to Beyfortus.
- has bleeding or bruising problems. If your child has a problem with bleeding or bruises easily, an injection could cause a problem.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines your child takes, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Your infant should not receive a medicine called palivizumab if they have already received Beyfortus in the same RSV season.
Serious allergic reactions have happened with Beyfortus. Get medical help right away if your child has any of the following signs or symptoms of a serious allergic reaction:
- swelling of the face, mouth, or tongue
- difficulty swallowing or breathing
- unresponsiveness
- bluish color of skin, lips, or under fingernails
- muscle weakness
- severe rash, hives, or itching
The most common side effects of Beyfortus include rash and pain, swelling, or hardness at the site of your child’s injection. These are not all the possible side effects of Beyfortus. Call your healthcare provider if you have questions about side effects.
INDICATION
Beyfortus is a prescription medicine used to help prevent a serious lung disease caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in:
- Newborns and babies under 1 year of age born during or entering their first RSV season.
- Children up to 24 months of age who remain at risk of severe RSV disease through their second RSV season.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information, for more details.