RSV Season Is Starting: What Colorado Springs Families Need to Know Now
Quick Facts
- RSV season timing: Typically begins October in Colorado; September is the window to act
- AAP recommendation: All infants under 8 months should receive RSV immunization before season peaks
- Available products: Nirsevimab, clesrovimab (monoclonal antibodies)
- High-risk children 8–19 months: Premature (under 32 weeks), congenital heart disease, pulmonary/neuromuscular conditions, Down syndrome
- Pregnant parents: September is the recommended window for maternal RSV vaccination
- Action: Call your pediatrician now to discuss your child's RSV immunization plan
September in Colorado Springs means cooling mornings, back-to-school routines, and — for families with infants and young children — the beginning of RSV season. Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is one of the leading causes of hospitalizations in infants and young children in the United States, and September is the time when pediatricians and public health experts recommend families take action before the virus starts circulating more widely in October and November.
What the AAP Recommends for 2026-27
The American Academy of Pediatrics updated its RSV prevention guidelines for the 2026-27 season with two significant changes that Colorado Springs families should know about.
First, all infants under 8 months who are entering their first RSV season should receive RSV immunization — unless they already have documented protection from their parent's RSV vaccination during pregnancy. Two monoclonal antibody options are available: nirsevimab and clesrovimab. Both provide protection against RSV during the season. Nirsevimab can be used in both the first and second RSV seasons for eligible children; clesrovimab is intended for the first RSV season.
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Advertise hereSecond, the AAP expanded the high-risk criteria for children aged 8 to 19 months for the 2026-27 season. Children in this older age range now qualify for RSV immunization if they were born premature at less than 32 weeks, if they have hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease, if they have anatomic pulmonary abnormalities or neuromuscular disorders, or if they have Down syndrome or other chromosomal differences.
If your child was previously at the edge of high-risk criteria — or if you are newly navigating a diagnosis this year — these expanded criteria may mean your child qualifies for protection that was not previously recommended.
For Pregnant Parents: Now Is the Time
September is also the recommended window for pregnant parents to receive the RSV maternal vaccine. The goal is to ensure that newborns arriving during the peak season (October through January) carry transferred protection from their parent at birth. A baby born into the height of RSV season without any immunity is at the highest risk. Timing matters — your OB or midwife can advise on the best schedule for your pregnancy stage.
What to Do This Week
The most important action is to call your child's pediatrician now — before October arrives and offices fill up with sick-season appointments. Ask specifically about RSV immunization: whether your child is a candidate, which product is appropriate, and whether any doses require scheduling before coverage windows close.
If your child does not currently have a pediatric provider in Colorado Springs, El Paso County Public Health (elpasoco.com/public-health) can connect families with local resources, and Centura and UCHealth both operate family medicine clinics with pediatric services in COS.
Colorado Springs school-age children are generally not the primary high-risk group for RSV hospitalizations, but they can bring the virus home. With D49 in week 7, D11 in week 5, and D20 in week 4, exposure pathways from school to younger siblings and infants are already open. Families with a school-age child and a young infant at home have additional reason to act proactively.
What's Next
The RSV season will unfold through the fall and into the winter. Families who act in September — by ensuring infants are immunized and by confirming their high-risk children's plans — are significantly better positioned than those who wait. If you have questions about your specific child's situation, your pediatrician is the right first call. The season has started; the window to prepare is now.
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