The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on Thursday, announced that the RSV vaccine for older adults, i.e., ones aged 60 or above will be available this fall.
However, they’ve also advised that people should first consult their doctors before moving ahead with the vaccination.
GSK and Pfizer RSV vaccine approval

According to the CDC, every year, RSV causes 6,000 to 10,000 deaths among older adults.
Symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus
RSV symptoms in newborns
Symptoms of RSV in newborns are quite serious and often appear 5-6 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms may include:
- severe cough
- unusual breathing
- difficulty breathing
- lethargy
- irritability
- fever
- difficulty feeding
- runny nose
- wheezing and sneezes
- chest pain
Symptoms of RSV in adults and older adults

Major symptoms of serious RSV infection may include:
- difficulty or rapid breathing
- severe cough
- high fever
- changes in the skin color due to lack of oxygen
How long are you contagious with RSV?
Most infected people are usually contagious for 4-8 days and may get infected a day or two before they start noticing signs and symptoms.
However, infants and people with a weak immune system can continue to transmit the virus for four or more weeks and even when they have stopped experiencing symptoms.
Is the Pfizer RSV vaccine safe during pregnancy?
Yes, the Pfizer RSV vaccine is safe for pregnant women and is recommended by the FDA as a tool to protect newborns from the disease. That’s because newborns and older adults are at much higher risk for RSV than others.
A study from Pfizer has also shown that its RSV vaccine is 82% effective in preventing RSV infections in babies from birth to three months old.
GSK and Pfizer vaccines: First licensed RSV vaccine for older adults in United States
As per the CDC, both vaccines are the first licensed ones in the US that will protect older adults against the dangers of RSV.
Health officials reckon that these vaccinations will protect older adults against severe symptoms of RSV, particularly at a time when respiratory and other infections are expected to spread.
However, the RSV vaccine for older adults should only be given after proper consultation with a healthacre provider.
The CDC has advised that people should first consult their doctors to determine whether the RSV vaccine for older adults would be safe for their health condition.
Edited by Bhargav
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