BUFFALO, N.Y. — US Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer was in Buffalo Monday, address the shortages of the new RSV vaccine for children.
Schumer is calling on the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), that new doses of the RSV vaccine that are expectred to be released soon that they go go to pediatricians on the front lines.
The vaccine is in short supply across the nation, including in Western New York. During the cold weather months, RSV, flu and COVID cases are high.
“The release of a brand-new immunization for RSV last year was a gamechanger in the fight against this disease that often terrifies new parents and puts our youngest children at risk. But with recent winter weather increasing risk for respiratory viruses, Western New York pediatricians and parents are justifiably nervous as we have already seen supply not able to meet the demand and we need action now,” said Senator Schumer. “Parents and doctors should never have to scramble to ensure our children can get a vaccine from RSV. That’s why I’m calling on the CDC, FDA and drug manufacturers to get all hands-on deck and work overtime to release more doses of this vital treatment, and to ensure all new doses get where they are needed most, like our hard-hit Western NY pediatricians on the frontlines.”
“Due to the limited availability of RSV shots, our staff was placed in the difficult situation of having to decide which babies would have the opportunity to receive the medication”, said Dr. Colleen Mattimore, MD, of Western New York Pediatrics. “It is unfair to have to ration shots for the most at-risk babies when babies are already more susceptible to RSV than most age groups. I have had to send babies to the ER to be treated for respiratory distress due to this shortage. We need to work together to remove this burden from medical practices, medical staff, and parents. Most importantly we need to work together to ensure that there is enough medication available for all eligible babies. We appreciate Senator Schumer coming here today to help advocate for us and our patients.”
The White House announced last month that an additional 230,000 more doses of the RSV shot for infants would become available, and will be distributed soon.
