Vaccines you may need
There are three RSV vaccines licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in adults ages 60 and older in the United States:
- GSK’s AREXVY
- Moderna’s mRESVIA
- Pfizer’s ABRYSVO
These vaccines work by causing an immune response that can protect you from respiratory disease if you get RSV in the future.
Who should get an RSV vaccine?
CDC recommends RSV vaccines for all adults ages 75 years and older, and for adults ages 60–74 years who are at increased risk of severe RSV.
CDC recommends an RSV vaccine if you are ages 60-74 and:
- Have chronic heart or lung disease
- Have a weakened immune system
- Have certain other medical conditions, including severe obesity and severe diabetes
- Live in a nursing home or other long-term care facility
RSV vaccine is given as a single dose.
RSV vaccine is not currently an annual vaccine, meaning people do not need to get a dose every RSV season. If you have already received an RSV vaccine, you do not need another dose at this time.
If you have a moderate or severe illness, you should wait until you recover before receiving an RSV vaccine. If you have a minor illness, such as a cold, you can get an RSV vaccine.
Who should not get an RSV vaccine?
You should not get an RSV vaccine if you’ve ever had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine. Information about the three available RSV vaccines can be found in the manufacturer’s package inserts for GSK’s AREXVY, Pfizer’s ABRYSVO, and Moderna’s mRESVIA.
How long do these vaccines work?
One dose of RSV vaccine provides protection against RSV disease in adults ages 60 years and older for at least two winter seasons, when RSV normally circulates.
In adults ages 60 years and older:
- GSK’s AREXVY has been shown to provide protection for up to 2 years.
- Pfizer’s ABRYSVO has been shown to provide protection for up to 2 years.
- Moderna’s mRESVIA has been shown to provide protection for up to 1.5 years (or 19 months).
AREXVY and ABRYSVO were licensed by FDA in May 2023, and mRESVIA was licensed in June 2024.
Additional data are needed for all three vaccines to determine how long the protection lasts.
What are the possible side effects?
Side effects such as pain, redness, and swelling where the shot is given, fatigue, fever, headache, nausea, diarrhea, and muscle or joint pain are possible after RSV vaccination. These side effects are usually mild. Patients who have experienced these symptoms when getting other vaccines might be more likely to experience them after RSV vaccination.
A small number of participants in clinical trials developed serious neurologic conditions, including Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), after RSV vaccination. GBS is a rare condition in which your immune system attacks your nerves, causing symptoms such as weakness. Early safety surveillance data from CDC and the FDA-Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) partnership suggest a potential for an increased risk of GBS after RSV vaccination in older adults aged 60 and older. However, these data are from the first RSV season during which vaccines were available and are preliminary. At this time, an increased risk of GBS cannot be confirmed. Learn more about GBS and vaccines.
Additional analyses using these surveillance data are underway and will provide more information about whether there is an association between RSV vaccine and GBS and, if it is present, how high the risk is. CDC and FDA will share data on RSV vaccine safety as they become available.
If you experience side effects from RSV vaccination, you should report them to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your healthcare provider might file this report, or you can do it yourself through the VAERS website, or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
If you have any questions about side effects from RSV vaccination, talk with your healthcare provider.
When should I get an RSV vaccine?
Eligible adults can get an RSV vaccine at any time, but the best time to get vaccinated is in late summer and early fall before RSV usually starts to spread in the community.
Do I need a prescription for an RSV vaccine?
See CDC’s Where to Find Vaccines for information on prescriptions for vaccines.
