II. Indications
- See Palivizumab (Synagis) for high risk infants
- See Nirsevimab for universal Vaccination in infants
- All adults age 75 years and older
- Adults 60 to 74 years old AND risk for severe RSV
- Heart, lung or Kidney disease
- Diabetes Mellitus with organ injury (e.g. Neuropathy)
- Body Mass Index (BMI) >=40 kg/m2
- Immunocompromised
- Pregnant Women
- CDC recommends Pfizer Bivalent RSVpreF Vaccine (Abrysvo) ONLY
- Do NOT use Arexvy in pregnant women (associated with Preterm Labor)
- Give single dose at 32 to 36 weeks during RSV season (U.S. Sept to Jan)
III. Contraindications
- Children
- Other RSV Immunizations are indicated in children (Nirsevimab, Palivizumab)
IV. Background
- RSV has long been recognized as a cause of severe respiratory illness in infants (typically october to march)
- As Respiratory Panel testing became more common in 2020s, RSV was recognized as important in older adults
- Older adults may experience similar rates of morbidity and mortality with RSV as with Influenza
- As of 2023, RSV causes 160k hospitalization and 10k deaths yearly in U.S, over age 65 years
V. Medications
- Abrysvo (RSVpreF)
- Arexvy (RSVPreF3)
- Single stabilized prefusion F subunit Vaccine that protects against RSV A and B
- Stored in refrigerator
- mRESVIA
- mRNA RSV Vaccine
- Available in prefilled syringes that require no reconstitution
- Stored in freezer and must be thawed in the refrigerator or at room Temperature for 45 to 155 min before injection
VI. Dosing: Adults
- RSV Vaccine (Abrysvo, Arexvy) or mRESVIA: 0.5 ml IM for single dose
- Only Abrysvo (NOT Arexvy) is FDA approved for use in pregnancy
VII. Efficacy
- One RSV Vaccine dose appears to protect for 2 years
- RSV Vaccine in older adults reduces RSV-related healthcare visits by 85%
- RSV Vaccine reduces risk of severe RSV in infants age <6 month (NNT 81)
VIII. Adverse Effects
- Common
- Fever
- Myalgias
- Rare serious effects
- Guillain Barre Syndrome
- Six cases (3 in 18k for GSK Arexvy, 3 in 20k for Pfizer Abrysvo) per package inserts (see below)
- Helgeson (2018) Indian J Crit Care Med 22(4):309-10 +PMID: 29743773 [PubMed]
- Guillain Barre Syndrome
IX. Resources
- RSV Vaccination for Pregnant People (CDC)
- Abrysvo (DailyMed)
- Arexvy (DailyMed)
- mRESVIA (DailyMed)
X. References
- (2023) Presc Lett 30(9): 49-50
- (2024) Presc Lett 31(8): 44-5