Keke Palmer says her 3 year old son, Leo, is picking up big words fast, from tarantula to destination, along with his mom’s protective streak. In an interview with People published Saturday, the 33 year old Emmy winner said Leo repeats the protective lines she uses around him. On arcade trips, for example, she narrates a Jurassic Park game by shouting that the dinosaurs aren’t getting her son, and now he shouts it too. She calls herself a territorial mom, and Leo is doing the same thing for his cousin. When Palmer’s sister scolds her daughter, Leo steps in and tells her not to talk to his son like that.
The interview had a purpose beyond the cute stories. Palmer spoke to People as part of a partnership with drugmaker Sanofi to promote Beyfortus, an RSV antibody shot for babies, ahead of RSV season. The protective instinct she describes is exactly what her message is about.
What did Keke Palmer say about her son Leo?
She said he never stops talking and is learning real things. Leo loves the aquarium, where he recently counted an octopus’s legs, even though he knows they are called tentacles. Palmer says they call them legs to make it easier for him. They also ride bikes together now that he’s big enough for the back seat. She said he keeps hitting new milestones.
Why does Leo call his cousin his son?
He learned it from his mom. Palmer says she often tells people that no one is going to get her son, so Leo connected the word ‘son’ with someone you love deeply. Now he uses it to defend his cousin. Palmer called it the cutest thing ever.
What is Keke Palmer promoting?
She is promoting Beyfortus, made by Sanofi and AstraZeneca, a long acting antibody shot that helps protect babies from severe RSV. The CDC has recommended it since 2023 for infants younger than 8 months entering their first RSV season, and for some older babies at higher risk. It has been shown to reduce RSV hospitalizations and health care visits in infants by about 80%.
Why does RSV matter for parents?
RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants in the United States. Each year, it sends an estimated 58,000 to 80,000 children younger than 5 to the hospital, and 100 to 300 of them die. RSV season usually starts in the fall and peaks in the winter. Leo is past the age for the shot, but Palmer is speaking up for parents with newborns.
Experts have also raised concerns that families with little money, transportation problems or no nearby clinics could struggle to get the shot if their baby doesn’t receive it in the hospital. The shot is part of the Vaccines for Children program, which provides recommended vaccines at no cost to about half of the nation’s children.
How has motherhood changed Keke Palmer?
Palmer has raised Leo in the public eye since he was born in 2023, the same year she split from his father, Darius Jackson. She has said she wants Leo to never be afraid to change and grow, and to know that happiness is his to take. With every new word, aquarium visit and bike ride, she is teaching him that, and he is showing it right back.
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk with your pediatrician about RSV protection for your child.
