RSV vaccine: what you need to know

The RSV vaccine protects against RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), a common seasonal virus that infects the nose, throat and lungs. Symptoms similar to those of the common cold, it can cause serious illness and even death, especially in infants and the elderly. Read on to learn more about the vaccine, including who should get it and who should get it. effects.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291ef6aeb3-c2df-4082-bffa-23be4f1b a17de60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c3986f26-7000-4e21-afc7-0d986bcde81c What is the RSV vaccine? What it is For decades, scientists have searched for a vaccine that could ward off RSV and reduce the risk of serious illness. A breakthrough finally came in 2013 when researchers identified a protein in RSV called pre-fusion (F) or preF for short, which allows the virus to attach to human cells. scientists were able to develop a vaccine that produces antibodies against preF, preventing the virus from entering cells. There are currently three RSV vaccine options. All are formulated to protect against two subtypes of the virus, A and B. Arexvy In May 2023, GSK’s Arexvy became the first vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to combat RSV, using an inactivated preF protein combined with an adjuvant (an ingredient that helps create a stronger immune system). answer).e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ab0a351a-dc5d-4097-931b-e137b0b e9c26e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299ab7c890-386e-4953-bc27-35a396583849 Abrysvo Abrysvo, from Pfizer, also received FDA approval in May 2023. Abrysvo does not use an adjuvant, but unlike in Arexvy, it contains the preF protein of RSV A and RSV ABe60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292ca43d20-fac1-49dd-8153-aee51a35eb7 4e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294926a452-993c-4603-a6ae-a268176efdd1 mRESVIA While Arexvy and Abrysvo use a traditional vaccination method similar to that used for the flu vaccine, mRESVIA, from Moderna, relies on mRNA, a technology similar to that used for the company’s COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines made from mRNA teach a person’s cells how to make a protein to trigger an immune response against a particular virus. The FDA approved the vaccine in May 2024.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762902e01f71-a43f-41fc-b1f0-f7bccb06d 961e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e179ed61-0455-4e67-856e-08582d8907e2 Who should get the RSV vaccine? Who should get it The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the RSV vaccine for the following groups. Adults 75 and older Because immunity to all viruses wanes with old age, older people are more likely to be hospitalized or die from complications of RSV. Adults ages 60 to 74 with underlying health conditions or other special concerns. Problems that may increase the risk of serious illness include: Chronic lung or respiratory disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, asthma, or cystic fibrosis) Chronic cardiovascular disease (such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or congenital heart disease) End-stage renal (kidney) disease or dependence on hemodialysis or other kidney replacement therapy. Diabetes complicated by chronic kidney disease. disease, neuropathy, retinopathy or other end organ damage, or requiring treatment with insulin or a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. Neurological or neuromuscular conditions leading to impaired airway clearance or weakness of the respiratory muscles, such as post-stroke dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ASL; Lou Gehrig’s disease), or muscular dystrophy. Chronic liver disease. disease ) Severe obesity Moderate or severe immune deficiency Residence in a nursing home or other long-term facility The CDC advises eligible older adults to receive whichever brand of RSV vaccine is available, and does not recommend just one type of vaccine. another.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d216e69e-ce1a-4368-9805-0df8b44bcf89 Pregnant people (to protect their newborns) The FDA has approved only one maternal RSV vaccine, Abrysvo. The pregnant person’s immune system creates antibodies that are shared with the fetus, protecting the baby during the first six months of life, when the risk of an infection becoming serious is highest. children are given a preventive treatment called Beyfortus (nirsevimab). This medication, a type called a monoclonal antibody, provides immediate protection against RSV and lasts for at least five months. e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ff759913-ef29-443a-8513-eed4aa0dfa3a When should you get the RSV vaccine and how long does it last? When to get it For eligible older adults, the CDC recommends vaccination in late summer or early fall, before the respiratory virus season begins. Currently, public health officials consider RSV a once-in-a-lifetime shot and not an annual vaccine, although this recommendation may change as researchers learn more about how long protection lasts. lasts.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f4f5f593-df04-4a49-ace6-b7d6b5bfa917 For pregnant people, the CDC recommends vaccination between gestational weeks 32 and 36, when this period is between September and January, so that babies born during RSV season are protected. Who should not get the RSV vaccine? A person should not receive the vaccine if they have ever had a serious allergic reaction (such as anaphylaxis) to any of the components. Efficacy The effectiveness of the RSV vaccine depends on the age of the recipient and the type of vaccine. The CDC says studies of Arexvy’s real-world effectiveness during the 2023-2024 respiratory virus season showed the vaccine was about 77% effective in preventing RSV-associated emergency room visits and 83% effective in preventing RSV-associated hospitalizations in adults 60 and older. old.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292cf78b3a-080a-4523-9bb7-4c8fc77eb34e Abrysvo was found to be approximately 79 percent effective in preventing RSV-associated emergency room visits and 73 percent effective in preventing RSV-related hospitalizations in adults 60 years and old.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292cf78b3a-080a-4523-9bb7-4c8fc77eb34e In a study of pregnant women who received Abrysvo, newborns had a nearly 82% reduced risk of serious lower respiratory tract infection in 90 days after birth if their mother had been vaccinated. The risk was about 69 percent lower within 180 days of birth.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294733068a-d6a9-4a4d-9910-370aa7838c53 Because mRESVIA is so new, research data is more limited. However, a clinical trial in participants aged 60 and older found that the effectiveness of a single dose of mResvia against symptomatic RSV was approximately 80% during the first four months after vaccination and approximately 56% during the first 12 months after vaccination. vaccination.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292cf78b3a-080a-4523-9bb7-4c8fc77eb34e Is the RSV vaccine safe? Safety The FDA has deemed RSV vaccination to be both safe and effective after an evaluation of clinical trial data. But the CDC notes that a small number of trial participants developed serious neurological conditions, including Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), after receiving Arexvy or Abrysvo. GBS is a rare disease in which the immune system attacks the nerves, causing symptoms such as weakness. older people who received a recommended RSV vaccine between August 4, 2023 and March 30, 2024. The data included 11 reports of GBS in those who received Arexvy and 17 cases of GBS in those who received In rare cases, a person may have an extreme allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to vaccination, causing hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, dizziness or weakness. In a survey of people who reported adverse reactions to the RSV vaccine between May 3, 2023 and April 14, 2024, more than 92 percent of the 2,193 people who received Arexvy and about 89 percent of the 919 people who received Abrysvo said these events were not serious. A total of seven people reported an allergic reaction, with two describing the reaction as anaphylaxis. pressure, including a dangerous form called preeclampsia. In clinical trials, 1.8 percent of vaccinated pregnant women developed preeclampsia, compared to 1.4 percent of pregnant women who received a placebo between 24 and 36 weeks of gestation. A total of 4.2 percent of infants were born prematurely in the vaccinated group, compared to 3.7 percent in the placebo group. It is not clear whether these differences are related to the RSV vaccine or whether they occurred for unrelated reasons. reasons.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629965f11c1-bd50-497e-a914-968c6073 dc70e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e425843d-4e79-4e28-8ba0-094cf2e24547 What are the side effects of the RSV vaccine? Side effects Side effects of the RSV vaccine are usually temporary and mild. They may include: e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d08584f1-ccfb-4144-b9f5-6a5a4e4455e9 Pain, redness and swelling at the injection site Fatigue Fever Headache Nausea Diarrhea Muscle or joint pain The RSV vaccine can it make you sick or contagious? The vaccine does not contain a whole virus or a live virus, so it cannot cause illness or make you contagious. to plan. Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage) covers the RSV vaccine. In 2024, the direct cost of an RSV vaccine ranged between $175 and $395, according to the CDC.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294e393d3d-2ade-4a95-9754-0f049bc72d 8de60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d835100b-bdb8-40e3-9a30-6df8e543c59f Where to get the RSV vaccine Where to get it The RSV vaccine is available at most doctor’s offices and pharmacies — Vaccines.gov can help you find one location near you. Vaccines may also be available through your local health department. 4e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b55db05d-bb2b-4b61-af6c-2b81e7250084 Takeaway RSV vaccines can prevent serious respiratory illness in infants (through maternal vaccination), people aged 75 and older, and those aged 60 to 74 year old suffering from some underlying conditions. There are three brands of RSV vaccines. The CDC does not recommend either for older adults, although Abrysvo is the only approved maternal vaccine. The FDA has deemed all of these vaccines safe and effective based on clinical trial data. Resources We Trust Mayo Clinic: What You Need to Know About RSV and the RSV VaccineLeveland Clinic: Protecting Yourself Against RSVCenters for Disease Control and Prevention: RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus): Immunizations to Protect InfantsAmerican Lung Association: Prevention and Treatment of RSVNational Foundation for Infectious Diseases: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)