From the Guidelines
The RSV vaccine should be administered after the individual has recovered from the RSV infection, as the vaccine is not intended to treat active infection, but rather to prevent future infections.
Key Considerations
- The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) 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.
- The vaccine can be administered at any time of year, but it is recommended to be given in late summer or early fall, just before the RSV season, which typically corresponds to August–October in the continental United States 1.
- Adults who have previously received RSV vaccine should not receive another dose, as a single dose provides protection for at least two RSV seasons 1.
- The decision to administer the RSV vaccine should be based on clinical assessment, and qualified vaccinators, including pharmacists and nurse practitioners, may determine patient eligibility for RSV vaccination based on clinical assessment even in the absence of medical documentation of a named risk condition 1.
From the Research
Administration of RSV Vaccine After Testing Positive
There is no direct evidence to suggest when to administer the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine after testing positive for RSV. However, the available studies provide information on the efficacy and safety of RSV vaccines in different populations.
Efficacy of RSV Vaccines
- The efficacy of RSV vaccines in preventing RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) has been demonstrated in several studies 2, 3, 4.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis found that RSV vaccines had a vaccine efficacy of 57.3% against RSV-related LRTD in infants within 90 days after birth 3.
- Another study found that prefusion anti-RSV vaccines had a vaccine efficacy of 73% in preventing LRTI/LRTD in older adults 4.
Safety of RSV Vaccines
- The safety of RSV vaccines has been evaluated in several studies, and the results suggest that they are well-tolerated and have a low rate of serious adverse events 2, 3, 4.
- A study found that the rate of undesired side effects was low in all studies, and severe side effects were very rare 2.
Immunogenicity of RSV Vaccines
- The immunogenicity of RSV vaccines has been evaluated in several studies, and the results suggest that they are able to induce neutralizing antibody responses in a significant proportion of vaccinees 5, 6.
- A study found that a single intranasal dose of the RSV vaccine RSV/ΔNS2/Δ1313/I1314L was able to induce a geometric mean serum RSV plaque-reduction neutralizing antibody titer of 1:64 in RSV-seronegative children 6.