CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, announced the adoption of CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations from GSK and Pfizer for both new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines for people 60 years and older. According to a recent CDC statement. The vaccines should be administered using shared clinical decision-making, meaning that individuals can receive the vaccine once they have discussed with their health care provider whether RSV vaccination is the best course of action for them.
CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, announced that she supports the recommendations of the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to use both new RSV vaccines. Image credit: Adobe Stock – Tada Images
Adults at high risk for serious illness from RSV include adults with chronic heart or lung disease, immunocompromised adults, the elderly, and adults living in nursing or long-term care facilities, the statement said. CDC estimates that RSV causes approximately 60,000 to 160,000 hospitalizations and 6000 to 10,000 deaths in the elderly each year.
These newly identified vaccines are expected to be available this fall and are the first vaccines licensed to protect against RSV in the United States, the CDC said in a statement. The CDC further explains that the vaccines give older adults a chance to protect themselves from severe RSV disease at a time when many respiratory infections can be spread. In addition, the CDC recommends in the statement that health care providers talk to their adult patients about other vaccinations they need in the fall to protect themselves from respiratory infections.
Ref
CDC. The CDC recommends the RSV vaccine for the elderly. Published June 30, 2023. Accessed June 30, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/s0629-rsv.html
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