Health Matters

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Why it took so long to finally get an RSV vaccine

By Alice Park

Senior Health Correspondent

It’s taken decades, but we now have a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The disease most seriously affects young children and older adults, which are the two populations emerging vaccines are targeting. I spoke to scientists who developed the vaccine at GlaxoSmithKline—as well as several at other companies that are also making RSV shots—about why this landmark vaccine for people ages 60 and older has taken so long.

Here's what to know about the new shot, called Arexvy, and the long road to its milestone approval:

Studies show that the vaccine lowers the risk of getting RSV by 82% among older adults who get a single shot, compared to people receiving placebo.
It won’t be the only shot targeting the virus for long. Pfizer and Moderna are also developing and testing RSV vaccines for older adults as well as for babies.
While researchers have been working on an RSV vaccine for decades, it took recent breakthroughs, some of which were also critical in the creation of COVID-19 vaccines, to finally make it possible.

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AN EXPERT VOICE

If you're struggling with bad allergy symptoms, "direct therapies are the most beneficial: so nasal sprays and eye drops are the most beneficial for nasal and eye symptoms, inhalers are best for asthma symptoms, and creams are best for skin."

—Dr. Michele Pham, allergist and immunologist at the University of California, San Francisco

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Today's newsletter was written by Alice Park and Jamie Ducharme, and edited by Mandy Oaklander.

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If you're struggling with bad allergy symptoms, "direct therapies are the most beneficial: so nasal sprays and eye drops are the most beneficial for nasal and eye symptoms, inhalers are best for asthma symptoms, and creams are best for skin."

—Dr. Michele Pham, allergist and immunologist at the University of California, San Francisco