Is RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccine administration annual or one-time?

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Last updated: February 8, 2025 • View editorial policy

From the Guidelines

RSV vaccine administration is a one-time dose.

Key Points

  • The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends a single dose of RSV vaccine for adults aged ≥75 years and for adults aged 60–74 years who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease 1.
  • Adults who have previously received RSV vaccine should not receive another dose, indicating that the vaccine is intended to be administered only once 1.
  • The recommendation is based on postlicensure data on vaccine effectiveness and safety, aiming to maximize RSV vaccination coverage among persons most likely to benefit 1.

Vaccine Details

  • The recommended RSV vaccines include Arexvy (GSK), Abrysvo (Pfizer), and mResvia (Moderna) 1.
  • The updated recommendations clarify who is at highest risk and reduce implementation barriers associated with the previous shared clinical decision-making recommendation 2.

Clinical Guidance

  • The vaccine is intended for adults aged ≥60 years, with a focus on those at increased risk for severe RSV disease 3, 2.
  • Continued postlicensure monitoring will guide future recommendations, ensuring that the vaccine administration schedule remains evidence-based 1.

From the Research

RSV Vaccine Administration

The administration of the RSV vaccine can be either annual or one-time, depending on the specific vaccine and population being targeted.

  • For adults aged ≥60 years, the adjuvanted RSVPreF3 vaccine is administered as a one-time vaccination, assuming the same vaccination schedule as for influenza vaccines 4.
  • For pregnant persons, the RSV bivalent prefusion F maternal vaccine (RSVpreF) is administered as a one-time vaccination during weeks 32 through 36 of gestation 5.
  • For older adults, newly approved vaccines, including two protein subunit vaccines and a messenger RNA vaccine, are licensed for use, but the administration schedule is not specified in the provided evidence 6.
  • mRNA vaccines against RSV, such as mRNA-1345, have been approved for use in adults over 60 years of age, but the administration schedule is not specified in the provided evidence 7.

Vaccine Development and Approval

Several RSV vaccine candidates are currently in development, including:

  • Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) such as nirsevimab and clesrovimab 6
  • Protein subunit vaccines 6
  • Messenger RNA vaccines 6, 7
  • These vaccines are being tested in clinical trials and have shown promising results, with some having received FDA approval 6, 7.

Target Population

The target population for RSV vaccine administration includes:

  • Infants, especially those born prematurely or with underlying health conditions 8, 6
  • Older adults, particularly those aged ≥60 years 4, 6, 7
  • Pregnant persons, as a maternal vaccine to prevent RSV illness in infants 5

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.