Brady Collins
The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a highly contagious virus that infects the lungs, nose, and throat, and is often difficult to differentiate from other respiratory diseases due to its similar symptoms. RSV is a common cause of coughs and colds, and while it usually gets better on its own, it can cause serious illness in infants and older adults. Currently, the RSV vaccine is not an annual vaccine, and protection from the vaccine typically lasts more than a year. The CDC recommends a single dose for adults 75 and older and for adults 50-74 with an increased risk of severe RSV disease. Pregnant women should also receive the vaccine during every pregnancy, preferably from 28 weeks onwards, to protect their babies after birth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How often should you receive the RSV vaccine? | The RSV vaccine is not currently an annual vaccine. If you have received an RSV vaccine already, you should not get another RSV vaccine at this time. |
| Who should get the vaccine? | The CDC recommends an RSV vaccine for all adults ages 75 years and older and for adults ages 50–74 years who are at increased risk of severe RSV. |
| Who should not get the vaccine? | You should not get an RSV vaccine if you've ever had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine. If you have a moderate or severe illness, you should wait until you recover before receiving an RSV vaccine. |
| When should you get the vaccine? | The best time to get vaccinated is in late summer and early fall before RSV usually starts to spread in the community. In most of the continental United States, this means getting your vaccine during August–October. |
| Where can you get the vaccine? | Many pharmacies offer the RSV vaccine. Adults can also receive the vaccination from a health care provider or a local pharmacy. |
| How many doses are required? | The RSV vaccine is given as a single dose. |
| How effective is the vaccine? | In clinical trials, Arexvy and Abrysvo were 78% effective in preventing severe RSV over a second year, while mRESVIA showed 50% efficacy in preventing RSV after 18 months. |
| What are the side effects? | Side effects such as pain, redness, and swelling where the shot is given, fatigue, fever, headache, nausea, diarrhea, and muscle or joint pain may occur after you get an RSV vaccine. These side effects are usually mild. |
| Can you get the RSV vaccine with other vaccines? | RSV vaccines can be co-administered with other adult vaccines during the same visit. Flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines may be given at the same visit. |
| Is the vaccine free? | Medicare Part D, Medicaid, and private insurers are now required to cover vaccination for eligible groups. Most people participating in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program are guaranteed coverage of all vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice, including nirsevimab, at no cost to them. |
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What You'll Learn
The RSV vaccine is not an annual vaccine
The RSV vaccine is not currently an annual vaccine. This means that eligible adults do not need to get a dose every RSV season. The CDC currently recommends only a single dose of the RSV vaccine for all adults aged 75 and older and for adults aged 50-74 with an increased risk of severe RSV disease. The vaccine is also recommended for pregnant women during every pregnancy, from 32 weeks onwards, to help protect the baby after they are born.
The RSV vaccine is given all year round, but the best time to get vaccinated is in late summer or early fall, just before the RSV season. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a common virus that affects the airways and lungs and usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. However, it can cause serious illness in infants and older adults, especially those with underlying conditions or other risk factors.
One dose of the RSV vaccine provides protection against RSV disease in adults aged 50 and older for at least two years. However, the duration of protection is still being studied, and additional data is needed to determine how long the protection lasts. The CDC will evaluate how long protection lasts and may update its recommendations accordingly.
The RSV vaccine is not recommended for those who have had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine. Side effects of the vaccine are usually mild and may include pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site, fatigue, fever, headache, nausea, diarrhea, and muscle or joint pain.
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RSV vaccine side effects
The RSV vaccine is not currently an annual vaccine, and protection from an RSV vaccine typically lasts more than a year. Hence, if you have received an RSV vaccine, you should not get another one at this time. The best time to get vaccinated is in late summer and early fall before the RSV season.
RSV vaccines are available to help reduce the risk of severe illness. RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms, with most people recovering in a week or two. However, it can be severe in infants and older adults, particularly those with chronic medical conditions.
The side effects of the RSV vaccine are usually mild. Some common side effects include:
- Pain, redness, and swelling where the shot is given
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle or joint pain
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
In rare cases, patients may experience serious neurologic conditions, including Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), after receiving certain RSV vaccines. GBS is a rare condition where the immune system attacks the nerves, causing symptoms such as weakness. Other serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, may occur and can be life-threatening. If you experience any side effects from the RSV vaccine, it is important to report them to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).
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RSV vaccine eligibility
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a highly contagious virus that affects people of all ages, causing mild, cold-like symptoms. However, it can be severe in infants and older adults. The RSV vaccine helps prevent serious infection and hospitalization. It is not an annual vaccine, and protection from the vaccine typically lasts more than a year. Currently, the CDC recommends a single dose of the RSV vaccine for all adults aged 75 and older and for adults aged 50-74 with an increased risk of severe RSV.
Healthcare providers can recommend vaccination for a broader population within the 50-74 age group based on local RSV epidemiology and community incidence of RSV-associated hospitalizations. The FDA has also approved the use of two RSV vaccines, Pfizer's Abrysvo and Moderna's mResvia, for adults aged 18-49 who are at an increased risk of RSV-Lower Respiratory Tract Disease (LRTD).
Pregnant individuals can also receive the RSV vaccine during pregnancy, typically between weeks 32 and 36, to protect their babies from severe RSV for approximately the first six months after birth.
While the RSV vaccine is generally safe, individuals with a history of severe allergic reactions to any component of the vaccine should not receive it. Additionally, those with moderate or severe illnesses should wait until they recover before receiving the vaccine.
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RSV vaccine availability
The CDC recommends that eligible adults receive any of the three RSV vaccines that are licensed and available for them. These vaccines are GSK's Arexvy, Moderna's mResvia, and Pfizer's Abrysvo. The vaccines are not currently annual vaccines, and protection from the vaccine lasts more than a year. The CDC recommends that eligible adults receive a single dose of the vaccine.
The maternal RSV vaccine, RSVpreF (brand name Abrysvo), is available for pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. The vaccine introduces an inactivated RSV protein into the body to stimulate the immune system to create antibodies, which are passed to the baby through the placenta.
For infants, there are currently two preventive options available: the maternal RSV vaccine and the monoclonal antibody injection, nirsevimab (brand name Beyfortus). However, there is no traditional vaccine currently available for this population.
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RSV vaccine timing
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common virus that affects the airways, nose, throat and lungs. It usually causes mild cold-like symptoms, including a runny nose, wheezing, and coughing. However, RSV can be severe in infants and older adults, and is the leading cause of infant hospitalization in the US. Each year, an estimated 58,000–80,000 children under 5 years old are hospitalized due to the virus, including 2-3 out of every 100 infants under 6 months old.
The RSV vaccine is not currently an annual vaccine, and protection from an RSV vaccine lasts more than a year. The CDC will evaluate how long protection lasts and may update recommendations as needed. The best time to get vaccinated is in late summer and early fall before RSV usually starts to spread in the community. In most of the continental US, this means getting the vaccine during August-October.
The RSV vaccine is recommended for all adults aged 75 and older, and for adults aged 50-74 with an increased risk of severe RSV disease. Adults aged 50 and older only need one dose of the RSV vaccine, which should protect them for several years. For pregnant women, the vaccine is recommended during every pregnancy (from 28 weeks onwards) to help protect the baby after they are born. The maternal RSV vaccine introduces an inactivated RSV protein into the body to stimulate the immune system to create antibodies. These antibodies are passed to the baby through the placenta, protecting the baby against severe RSV for approximately six months after birth.
There are three RSV vaccines approved for use in the US in adults aged 60 and older: GSK's Arexvy, Pfizer's Abrysvo, and Moderna's mResvia. The FDA has also approved the use of Pfizer's Abrysvo and Moderna's mResvia in adults aged 18-49 who are at increased risk for RSV-Lower Respiratory Tract Disease (LRTD).
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Frequently asked questions
The RSV vaccine is not currently an annual vaccine, and protection from an RSV vaccine lasts more than a year. The CDC recommends only a single dose of RSV vaccine for all adults aged 75 and older and for adults aged 50–74 with an increased risk of severe RSV disease.
Pregnant women should receive the RSV vaccine during every pregnancy, ideally from 28 weeks onwards.
The maternal RSV vaccine protects babies for approximately six months after birth. Nirsevimab is also available for infants and only requires a single dose.
Adults aged 50 and older should receive the RSV vaccine every few years. One dose of the RSV vaccine provides protection for at least two years.
The CDC has not yet provided a recommendation for adults aged 18-49.
