Summary
- RSV activity is rising rapidly in Pennsylvania, especially among children under age five and adults aged 65 and older.
- RSV is a leading cause of severe respiratory illness, responsible for 60,000-120,000 hospitalizations and 6,000-10,000 deaths annually among adults 65 years and older in the US.
- RSV vaccines (which are not annual) are recommended for pregnant people (32-36 weeks gestation), adults 60-74 years with certain health risks, and for everyone 75 and older.
- RSV vaccines demonstrate moderate to high efficacy in reducing morbidity and mortality especially in older adults.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all babies be protected from severe RSV by vaccinating pregnant individuals at 32-36 weeks gestational age or administering a long-acting monoclonal antibody to infants aged < 8 months entering their first RSV season and for those aged 8–19 months at increased risk for severe RSV infection.
Recommendations: