(First published date: July 24, 2023, Updated date: October 7, 2024)
This winter, when the usual sneezing, wheezing, coughing and fever set in, you can get extra protection for people who are at higher risk for at least one common illness. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes mild cold symptoms in most people, but can cause hospitalization and even death in older adults and infants. However, vaccinations are now being given to the elderly, infants, and pregnant women who want to protect their newborns.
“There’s a lot of change going on with RSV,” says Dr. Scott Roberts, an infectious disease specialist at Yale Medicine. “Attempts to create a vaccine have been made for decades, but have failed for a variety of reasons.”
One turning point came with the study of an RSV protein called RSV fusion (F), which provides a powerful stimulus to the immune system. This study paved the way for clinical trials showing positive results.
Vaccines for the elderly are important. One reason for this, Dr. Roberts explains, is that as we age, our immune systems weaken and we can’t fight off infections like respiratory syncytial virus as well as we could when we were younger. Children have smaller lungs, which makes them more susceptible to serious illnesses.
There are currently three RSV vaccines available for people age 60 and older to choose from. They are ABRYSVO® from Pfizer. AREXVY® by GSK. and mRESVIA®, manufactured by Moderna.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all adults age 75 and older and those ages 60 to 74 with risk factors for severe RSV disease, such as chronic heart or lung disease, a weakened immune system, or other medical conditions. We recommend that adults: If you have diabetes or live in a nursing home, get one of the three RSV vaccines. (However, the CDC says if you got the RSV vaccine last year, you don’t need to get the RSV vaccine this year.)
In addition, there are two options for infants and young children: all infants up to 8 months of age born or entering the first RSV season, and nirsevimab (commercially available) for small groups during the RSV season. This includes a monoclonal antibody called Beyfortus®. The second season is between 8 and 19 months of age and is at high risk for severe disease (including severely immunocompromised children).
ABRYSVO is also approved to protect newborns from birth to six months of age from severe RSV when given to pregnant women ahead of RSV season to provide antibodies that can be passed on to the fetus.
Dr. Roberts and Thomas Murray, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Yale Medicine, answered questions about new options for seniors and children.
