• Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.
  • Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious. Infants and older adults are more likely to develop severe RSV and need hospitalization. 

New RSV Vaccines for Adults 60 and Over

  • Regulators recently approved two vaccines that help prevent RSV in adults 60 and older.
  • The CDC recommends that everyone over the age of 60 talk to their doctor about the individual benefits and risks of the new vaccines.
  • Older adults with underlying health problems like heart or lung disease or declining immune systems may experience a greater benefit.

RSV Protection for Infants 

  • A monoclonal antibody treatment to help prevent RSV infections in infants was recently approved.
    • Monoclonal antibodies are not vaccines. Instead, they provide a shield of protection by blocking target viruses from entering cells.
    • Protection from monoclonal antibodies decreases over time. The current treatment protects against RSV for one season, or about five months.
  • The CDC recommends this treatment for children ages 0-8 months before their first RSV season.
  • The treatment is not for children already infected with RSV.
  • A maternal vaccine to protect newborns from RSV infections is also approved for use in weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy, either immediately before or during RSV season.
  • Most infants will be adequately protected by either the antibody treatment or the material vaccine.