Fund Status

Maximum Award Level

Eligibility Criteria

Patient should be insured and insurance must cover the medication for which patient seeks assistance.

The medication must fight the disease directly.

Patient must be a legal US resident.

Patient’s income must fall below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.

Get Help With Your Treatment

Phone: Call 1-866-316-PANF (7263)

Information About the Disease

Respiratory Synctial Virus (RSV) is a very contagious virus and the most common cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia in children younger than age 1 in the U.S.  Almost all children are infected with the virus by their second birthday, but only a small percentage of children develop severe illness. RSV can infect a person several times during their lifetime. After each RSV infection, the body becomes more immune to the virus, but the person is never completely immune.

Those most at risk for RSV are infants and children born prematurely, who often have underdeveloped lungs and may not have received enough antibodies from their mothers to help them fight off RSV disease once they have been exposed to it. Boys under 6 months of age, infants and children with chronic lung or congenital heart disease, infants in crowded day care settings and anyone whose immune system is weak due to illness or treatments are also at higher risk.  RSV can be prevented through basic steps and being protective of infants.  

For more information visit the American Lung Association website or call 1-800-LUNGUSA.