Lompoc Valley Medical Center Named Leader in Infant Immunization

Lompoc Valley Medical Center has been presented with an “Immunization-Friendly Birth Hospital” award for its commitment to infant immunization. 

The award was bestowed by the California Department of Public Health, which acknowledged the hospital’s enrollment in the Vaccines for Children program and its “outstanding work” in infant immunization in California. 

Hospitals awarded the designation immunized more than 1,700 Vaccines For Children-eligible infants with nirsevimab, protecting the children against life-threatening infections.  

Nirsevimab is an injectable monoclonal antibody that prevents severe RSV, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus, disease in infants and young children. RSV is a contagious virus that causes infections of the respiratory tract. 

LVMC was honored for administering nirsevimab to VFC-eligible infants during the RSV season between October 2023 and March 2024. 

The Centers for Disease Control warns that RSV can be dangerous for infants, especially those younger than 6 months of age. RSV can also cause more severe illnesses such as bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lungs) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs). It is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than 1 year of age, according to the CDC.