NextAvenue: What You Should Know About RSV Vaccines

NextAvenue recently interviewed Sonja Rosen, MD, section chief of Geriatric Medicine at Cedars-Sinai, about the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, which is recommended for high-risk groups including people over 60 years old and adults with chronic heart or lung diseases.

Rosen told NextAvenue that severe cases of RSV can develop in those with compromised immune systems and can cause life-threatening illness.

“Older people who have chronic lung or cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, [or who] are immunocompromised, such as those receiving cancer treatments or [who] are organ transplant recipients or have other chronic health conditions, are at increased risk for severe respiratory disease,” Rosen told NextAvenue. “RSV can also sometimes lead to exacerbation of serious conditions such as asthma, COPD and congestive heart failure.”

Rosen advised getting an RSV vaccine, as is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but she emphasized that the decision is ultimately between the patient and their doctor.

“The most important factors in making this decision are a health care provider’s assessment of the patient’s risk of becoming severely ill if they get the RSV disease and the patient’s personal preferences,” she told NextAvenue.

Rosen said it is safe to get vaccinated against the flu, COVID-19 and RSV at the same time but also noted, “If you have concerns, you can certainly space out your vaccine appointments if that is an option.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two RSV vaccines for people 60 and older, each offering protection for about two years.

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