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Except that for the first time in human history almost all women survive childbirth and almost all babies survive infancy. Three of my grandmother’s seven siblings survived to adulthood (and then very old age). My grandmother's siblings died of diarrhea as infants or toddlers. My husband’s grandmother’s family’s experience was similar, a sister and a brother died before they were two, apparently of pneumonia ,and a brother passed as a teenager because he “didn't sweat.”

Those grandmothers had a grandson who suffered from illnesses twice during infancy that would have taken him in their day. The grandson was hospitalized three times as a baby. The first time he was on a respirator for RSV pneumonia, a serious illness for which there is no vaccine. The second time was for treatment Rotaviurs. Rotavrius is a diarrheal illness that even today is a killer in the third world. Without IV fluids, there is no doubt at all that Rotavirus would have killed that lucky boy.

If you met the 14 year old grandson today he would appear indistinguishable from any other boy his age. But he is different, to control his asthma (an autoimmune disease) he requires daily medication, his skin occasionally develops serious infections which require antibiotics and when he gets sick he gets very sick.

What cause the boy’s asthma? His survival. That’s what’s different now. We are living on a spot in human history which has never been enjoyed before.

The first time he was on a respirator for RSV pneumonia, a serious illness for which there is no vaccine.

There is a vaccine for RSV called Synagis, but due to it's expense (IIRC, about $2000/100mg), it's reserved for high risk babies (preemies, those with heart or lung problems, etc.). It's actually an immune globulin (pooled antibodies from donors) as opposed to an "active" vaccine (a killed or weakened organism which stimulates the body's immune system to produce it's own antibodies). Here in Pennsylvania, we give it from November to April (when RSV is at it's peak). As I understand, RSV season is different in various parts of the country, so the months in which Synagis is given varies. As for it's cost effectiveness, $12-14k over the entire RSV season is a drop in the bucket, compared to the cost of a NICU or PICU stay for RSV. As for Synagis, it's a monthly shot into the muscle; much better than it's predecessor, Respigam, which was given in a monthly IV infusion over several hours.