Is Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what LactMed, the Drugs and Lactation Database published by the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), reports about Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine. The text below is quoted from that source — it is not our own verdict.
Summary of use during breastfeeding
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other expert opinion state that vaccines given to a nursing mother do not affect the safety of breastfeeding for mothers or infants and that breastfeeding is not a contraindication to respiratory syncytial virus vaccine.[1,2] Of the two available vaccines, the adjuvanted vaccine (Arexvy) is indicated only for persons over 60 years of age and the nonadjuvanted vaccine (Abrysvo) is indicated for pregnant persons and for persons over 60 years of age. Neither vaccine contains live organisms and non-live vaccines are generally considered to be acceptable during breastfeeding.[3]
Effects on the breastfed infant
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
“No published information” means the studies do not exist yet — not that Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine is known to be harmful, and not that it is known to be safe. Your prescriber or pharmacist can weigh your baby's age and whether a better-studied alternative would do the same job. Worth asking before stopping a medicine you need.
Source: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), via NCBI Bookshelf, record “Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine” (RSV_vaccine). LactMed on NCBI Bookshelf. LactMed is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.