SHOULD YOU RSVP TO THE RSV VACCINE?
At least once a week, I get a text from CVS advising me to come in for my RSV vaccination. I haven’t gone, mostly because I know next to nothing about RSV other than it causes cold-like symptoms. In fact, I had what seemed like a cold a couple of months ago—maybe it was RSV?
Thinking that we seniors might benefit from knowing more about this virus, I did a little online research. First, I found that those letters are an acronym for the hard-to-remember name of the bug: Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Then, I learned that it’s so common that most children have been infected by it by the age of two.
Here’s more information from the Mayo Clinic:
RSV Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus infection most commonly appear about four to six days after exposure to the virus. In adults, RSV usually causes mild cold-like signs and symptoms. These may include:
- Congested or runny nose
- Dry cough
- Low-grade fever
- Sore throat
- Sneezing
- Headache
In Severe Cases
RSV infection can spread to the lower respiratory tract, causing pneumonia or bronchiolitis — inflammation of the small airway passages entering the lungs. Signs and symptoms may include:
- Fever
- Severe cough
- Wheezing — a high-pitched noise that’s usually heard on breathing out (exhaling)
- Rapid breathing or difficulty breathing — the person may prefer to sit up rather than lie down
- Bluish color of the skin due to lack of oxygen (cyanosis)
Most people recover in one to two weeks, although some might have repeated wheezing. Severe or life-threatening infection requiring a hospital stay may occur in anyone who has chronic heart or lung problems.
And here I offer excerpts from the August 20, 2024, CDC online article: RSV Vaccines for Older Adults
What to Know
- Three RSV vaccines are licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in adults ages 60 and older in the United States.
- CDC recommends everyone ages 75 and older get an RSV vaccine.
- CDC recommends adults ages 60–74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease get an RSV vaccine.
- If you have already gotten an RSV vaccine, you do not need to get another one at this time.
Available Vaccines
- GSK’s Arexvy
- Moderna’s mResvia
- Pfizer’s Abrysvo
These vaccines work by causing an immune response that can protect you from respiratory disease if you get RSV in the future. Eligible adults can get any one of these three vaccines. The RSV vaccine is given as a single dose.
Who should get an RSV vaccine?
CDC recommends an RSV vaccine for all adults ages 75 years and older and for adults ages 60–74 years who are at increased risk of severe RSV.
Conditions that increase your risk for severe illness include:
- Chronic heart or lung disease
- Weakened immune system
- Certain other medical conditions, including some people with diabetes and some people with obesity
- Living in a nursing home
The RSV vaccine is not currently an annual vaccine, meaning people do not need to get a dose every year. If you have already received an RSV vaccine, you do not need another dose at this time.
When should I get an RSV vaccine?
If you haven’t gotten an RSV vaccine yet, you can get one at any time, but the best time to get vaccinated is in late summer and early fall before RSV usually starts to spread in the community.
If you have a moderate or severe illness, you should wait until you recover before receiving an RSV vaccine. If you have a minor illness, such as a cold, you can get an RSV vaccine.
How long do these vaccines work?
One dose of RSV vaccine provides protection against RSV disease in adults ages 60 years and older for at least two years.
Because Arexvy and Abrysvo were licensed by FDA in May 2023 and mResvia was licensed in June 2024, we are still learning about how long RSV vaccines provide protection.
Additional data are needed for all three vaccines to determine how long the protection lasts.
What are the possible 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. Patients who have experienced these symptoms when getting other vaccines might be more likely to experience them after getting an RSV vaccine.
Based on the available data, ACIP and CDC continue to conclude that the benefits of RSV vaccination, in terms of preventable hospitalizations and deaths, outweigh the potential risks, among adults ages 75 years and older and among adults ages 60-74 years at increased risk of severe RSV disease.
CDC and FDA will continue to monitor RSV vaccine safety and will share data as they become available
[I’m convinced. I’ll visit CVS and get my RSV vaccination this week.]