FAQs
For this upcoming respiratory virus season, CDC recommends: Everyone ages 75 and older receive the RSV vaccine. People ages 60–74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV, meaning they have certain chronic medical conditions, such as lung or heart disease, or they live in nursing homes, receive the RSV vaccine.
What are the side effects of the RSV vaccine in older adults? ›
Side effects such as pain, redness, and swelling where the shot is given, fatigue, fever, headache, nausea, diarrhea, and muscle or joint pain are possible after RSV vaccination. These side effects are usually mild.
When is the best time to get the RSV vaccine? ›
The best time to get vaccinated is in late summer and early fall, before RSV starts spreading through the country, the agency added. Just a year ago, the same CDC advisory panel recommended that people 60 and older simply talk to their doctors about whether to get the shots.
Why was the RSV vaccine discontinued? ›
While the vaccine was shown to reduce the risk of babies contracting RSV, they stopped enrollment in the trial early due to the safety concerns, researchers recount in an analysis published March 14 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Do most adults have immunity to RSV? ›
“Even adults are exposed to it repeatedly over time, so we develop some immunity to it.” In healthy adults and children, though, RSV typically presents as a common cold, with symptoms similar to those caused by other “common cold” viruses, such as rhinovirus, adenovirus and a couple of common coronaviruses.
Should I be worried about RSV as an adult? ›
Usually, as an adult, when you become ill with RSV you have mild cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough and a headache. But sometimes, and for some people, you can become so ill you need to be hospitalized. And each year in the United States thousands of older adults die of complications from RSV.
How many RSV shots are required? ›
For now, only one dose of the RSV vaccine is recommended. So far, RSV vaccines appear to provide some protection for at least two RSV seasons. Additional evaluation is planned to assess how long the protection lasts and whether additional doses will be needed.
On what day is RSV the worst? ›
Symptoms such as fever, runny nose, and cough usually span about a week and are typically at their worst on days three through five of the illness. However, in premature infants or babies with lung disease, RSV can lead to serious lower respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis.
What months are at risk for RSV? ›
Infants up to 12 months of age (especially those 6 months and younger) and children who were born prematurely, or who have chronic lung or heart disease or a weakened immune system, are at increased risk of severe RSV disease.
What is the new RSV vaccine called? ›
Both types of vaccines are now available for RSV. The vaccine that is available to those over 60, and is now approved for pregnant women, is an active vaccine called Abrysvo. The new infant RSV vaccine is a passive vaccine called nirsevimab.
The vaccine, called mResvia, showed about 81% efficacy in a primary analysis at 3.7 months. GSK's vaccine, Arexvy, was 68% effective over 23.3 months in a clinical trial; and Pfizer Inc.'s Abrysvo was 78% effective after 16.4 months.
What does the RSV vaccine protect against? ›
How Effective Are the RSV Vaccines? According to the FDA, the Arexvy vaccine reduces the risk of developing RSV-associated LRTD (lower respiratory tract disease) by 82.6% and the risk of developing severe RSV-associated LRTD by 94.1%. The ABRYSVO vaccine reduces the risk of LRTD by 65.1% and severe LRTD by 88.9%.
Can you get a shot to prevent RSV? ›
CDC recommends adults 60 years of age and older have the option to receive a single dose of RSV vaccine, based on discussions between the patient and their health care provider.
Are you vaccinated against RSV? ›
Reinfections with RSV are common but illness is usually milder with subsequent infections. At present there is no vaccine available in Canada to prevent RSV. The only means of prevention is temporary passive protection with the monoclonal antibody preparation palivizumab (PVZ).
How serious is RSV? ›
RSV can be dangerous for infants and older adults
Healthy adults and infants infected with RSV do not usually need to be hospitalized. But some people with RSV infection, especially older adults and infants younger than 6 months of age, may need to be hospitalized if they are having trouble breathing or are dehydrated.
Should my baby get the RSV shot? ›
RSV Immunization for Children 19 months and Younger. Nirsevimab (Beyfortus) is an immunization recommended for all infants younger than 8 months of age who are born during—or who are entering—their first Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) season.
