RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS VACCINE HAS IMPROVED STATS
Respiratory Syncytial Virus, RSV, as its name implies, is a respiratory virus that causes upper and lower respiratory infections. Upper—cold, cough, runny nose, lethargy. Lower—bronchiolitis, pneumonia, cough, fever. An RSV vaccine has been available for at least the last two winters because I took it in the Fall of 2023. It is not yet recommended as an annual vaccine for adults.
For infants and neonates, RSV vaccine is given to them before 8 months of age and before entering their first season of RSV exposure. RSV vaccine for infants has been available at least since the 2023-2024 season.
According to a study in Spain this vaccine has had a major positive impact on the rates of emergency department visits for respiratory tract infections, acute bronchiolitis, and hospital and intensive care admissions.
In 2023-2024, the following stats were credited to RSV vaccine:
A 57.5% decrease in episodes of lower respiratory infections seen in ER’s
A 59.2% decrease in acute bronchiolitis
A 63.1% decrease in related hospital admissions
A 63.1% reduction in pediatric ICU admission
These are startling numbers. A more than 50% improvement in significant respiratory tract events is very impressive. This vaccine works, at least for infants. Whether or not senior citizens will need more than one vaccination is yet to be determined, as far as I know, but if it’s a safe vaccine, I wouldn’t hesitate to take it again. I’ll wait to see what the CDC recommends.
References: Shaughnessy AF. Universal Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prophylaxis Decreases Health Care Use by Infants Am Fam Phys 2025 July;112(1):96
