RSV Vaccination Frequency in Adults
Adults should receive only a single lifetime dose of RSV vaccine and should not receive another dose if they have already been vaccinated. 1
Current Dosing Recommendation
A single dose of RSV vaccine provides protection for at least two consecutive RSV seasons, and no additional doses are currently recommended. 1 The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) explicitly states that adults who have previously received any RSV vaccine should not receive another dose. 1, 2
Duration of Protection
- Current evidence demonstrates that one dose provides protection lasting through at least two RSV seasons. 1
- The need for additional RSV vaccine doses will be evaluated by ACIP in the future as more data on duration of protection and immune response after revaccination become available. 1
- ACIP has indicated they require additional data on duration of protection from RSV vaccination and immune response after revaccination before making any recommendations about booster doses. 1
Who Should Receive the Single Dose
The single lifetime dose is recommended for: 1
- All adults aged ≥75 years (regardless of risk factors)
- Adults aged 60-74 years with increased risk, including:
- Chronic medical conditions (COPD, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, severe obesity with BMI ≥40)
- Moderate or severe immunocompromise
- Residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities
Optimal Timing for the Single Dose
- Eligible adults who have not previously received RSV vaccination may be vaccinated at any time of year. 1
- Vaccination will have the most benefit if administered in late summer or early fall (August-October in most of the continental United States), just before the RSV season. 1
- The vaccine can be co-administered with other adult vaccines, including influenza vaccine, during the same visit at different injection sites. 1, 2
Important Clinical Caveat
This is a one-time vaccination—there is no annual or periodic revaccination schedule for RSV vaccine in adults. 1, 2 This differs fundamentally from influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, which require annual or periodic boosting. The single-dose recommendation applies to all three FDA-approved RSV vaccines: Arexvy (GSK), Abrysvo (Pfizer), and mResvia (Moderna). 1