Is the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine effective for a 60-year-old individual?

RSV Vaccination for Adults 60 Years and Older

For adults aged 60 years, the RSV vaccine is strongly recommended if they have risk factors for severe RSV disease, while all adults aged 75 years and older should receive the vaccine regardless of health status. 1

Vaccination Recommendations by Age Group

Adults 75 Years and Older

• All adults aged ≥75 years should receive a single dose of RSV vaccine regardless of health status 1, 2
• This age-based recommendation reflects the significantly higher risk of severe RSV disease in this population
• Estimated benefits per 1 million vaccine doses: prevention of 3,817-4,283 RSV-associated hospitalizations, 561-630 ICU admissions, and 539-605 deaths over two consecutive RSV seasons 1

Adults 60-74 Years

• RSV vaccination is recommended only for those with risk factors for severe disease 1, 2
• Risk factors include:
  • Chronic cardiovascular disease (heart failure, coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease)
  • Chronic lung/respiratory disease (COPD, emphysema, asthma, interstitial lung disease)
  • End-stage renal disease or dependence on dialysis
  • Complicated diabetes mellitus (with chronic kidney disease, neuropathy, retinopathy)
  • Neurologic conditions affecting airway clearance
  • Chronic liver disease (cirrhosis)
  • Chronic hematologic conditions (sickle cell disease, thalassemia)
  • Severe obesity (BMI ≥40 kg/m²)
  • Moderate or severe immune compromise
  • Residence in a nursing home
  • Frailty or other conditions that increase risk for severe respiratory infection 1

Vaccine Effectiveness and Duration

• A single dose provides protection for at least two RSV seasons 1, 2
• Vaccine effectiveness against RSV-associated hospitalization is 58% (95% CI, 45%-68%) over two seasons 3
• Same-season vaccination effectiveness is 69% (95% CI, 52%-81%) vs. 48% (95% CI, 27%-63%) for prior-season vaccination 3
• Clinical trials showed high efficacy:
  • 82.6% efficacy against RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease 4
  • 94.1% efficacy against severe RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease 4
  • 71.7% efficacy against RSV-related acute respiratory infection 4

Important Considerations and Caveats

• Do not administer to those who have previously received an RSV vaccine - a single dose provides protection for multiple seasons 1, 2
• Optimal timing for vaccination is before RSV season (August-October in most of the continental US) 1, 2
• Vaccine effectiveness is significantly lower in immunocompromised adults (30%; 95% CI, -9% to 55%) compared to immunocompetent adults (67%; 95% CI, 53%-77%) 3
• Effectiveness is also lower in those with cardiovascular disease (56%; 95% CI, 32%-72%) compared to those without (80%; 95% CI, 62%-90%) 3
• RSV vaccines can be co-administered with other adult vaccines including influenza vaccines 2

Safety Profile

• RSV vaccines have an acceptable safety profile with mostly mild-to-moderate, transient adverse reactions 4, 5
• There is a small potential risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS):
  • 3-16 estimated vaccine-attributable GBS cases per 1 million vaccine doses 1
  • This risk is outweighed by the benefits in recommended populations 1
• Common side effects include local injection site reactions (58.7% vs. 16.2% for placebo) and systemic reactions (47.7% vs. 32.9% for placebo) 5

Conclusion for a 60-Year-Old Individual

For a 60-year-old individual, RSV vaccination is recommended only if they have one or more risk factors for severe RSV disease. Patient attestation is sufficient evidence of risk factors, and healthcare providers can use clinical judgment to determine eligibility. The vaccine provides substantial protection against severe RSV disease for at least two seasons with a single dose.