by Donald Eng
NEW HAVEN, CT — For 10 days, state Comptroller Sean Scanlon and his wife lived in fear as their infant child remained hospitalized with respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV).
Scanlon, speaking at Yale New Haven Health Children’s Hospital, said the child ultimately recovered.
“But for those 10 days, it was incredibly scary, and RSV is a very dangerous illness that most people don’t know too much about,” he said.
Scanlon was one of a handful of state officials, including Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani and Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz to attend a public event at Yale encouraging Connecticut residents to get vaccinated against seasonal respiratory illnesses.
“Fall and winter are very busy times for adult and pediatric emergency departments, in part driven by seasonal respiratory viral illnesses including COVID, influenza and RSV,” said Kate Heilpern, president of Yale New Haven Hospital.
Heilpern said it was especially important for the more vulnerable population to protect themselves, including the elderly, pregnant women and young children.
Thomas Murray, associate medical director for infection prevention, said there were about 300 children hospitalized at Yale for RSV last year. The most common reason for hospitalization is the need for additional oxygen, although dehydration was also a factor in some cases.
But the good news, he said, is that there is an RSV antibody available that has reduced newborn hospitalizations by 90%. In addition, there is an adult RSV vaccine for those over 60 or over 50 with underlying health problems.
“We love this for grandparents who are going to be spending time with new babies,” Murray said.
Juthani said the state had 49,000 hospitalizations for COVID-19 last year, and another 46,000 from the flu.
In 2022, she said, 1,700 children were hospitalized with RSV, but the introduction of the antibody in 2023-24 halved that number, she said.
New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said Connecticut was fortunate to have institutions like Yale that supported health programs in the city and state.
“It’s unfortunate I have to say those things, but the reality is the messaging we’re getting from leadership in Washington is at minimum discombobulated and contradictory, but in some cases is downright false,” he said
Bysiewicz, who along with Scanlon, Juthani and Elicker received vaccination shots at the conclusion of the event, said vaccinations also protected others who for medical reasons could not receive a vaccine. She encouraged people to also take basic precautions to avoid spreading illness.
“Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly, and if you feel sick don’t go to school or work,” she said.