The CDC recommends that people 75 and older get vaccinated, as this demographic is more likely to get severely ill with RSV infection. People 60 to 74 years old also should get vaccinated if they have underlying conditions that make them more vulnerable to severe RSV, such as chronic heart disease or chronic lung disease, according to the CDC. People who live in nursing homes should also get vaccinated.
This is a change from last year, when the CDC issued a somewhat vague guidance saying people 60 and older should engage in “shared decision-making” with their doctor before deciding whether to get immunized. Many people found this language confusing because the public is used to the CDC making clearer vaccine recommendations, as it does for flu and COVID shots.
Older adults can get any of the three RSV vaccines: Abrysvo (made by Pfizer), Arexvy (made by GSK), or the new mRNA vaccine mResvia (made by Moderna).
If you got an RSV shot last year — whether it was because you were pregnant, or because you were 60 or older — you don’t need to get one this year. Clinical trials for the GSK (Arexvy) and Pfizer (Abrysvo) vaccines showed that protection against RSV lower respiratory tract disease lasts 23 months and 18 months, respectively. None of the RSV vaccines is recommended for adults under 60 who are not pregnant.
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