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RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) Vaccine

What is RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)?

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that typically spreads every fall and winter, like the flu or COVID-19. It's difficult to distinguish from a common cold, and most healthy people will recover within a week. 

The problem is that it can cause severe infections in infants and older adults who are more prone to severe RSV infections, which can hospitalize them or cause life-threatening complications.

Luckily, RSV is a preventable disease because we have safe and effective vaccines that protect vulnerable populations against severe infections!

How does the RSV Vaccine protect Southwest Florida?

The populations in Southwest Florida that are most at risk for severe RSV infections are children younger than 1 and adults over 65. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that RSV hospitalizes 58,000 children under 5 and causes 14,000 deaths among adults over 65 annually. Because of their increased risk for severe RSV infections, vaccines play a vital role in protecting these populations in our community.

RSV Vaccine FAQ

The CDC recommends the following groups get vaccinated against RSV:

Adults 60 and Older - Everyone over 60 who is at risk of severe RSV should get vaccinated. It's best done in late summer and early fall before it spreads. The RSV vaccine is not an annual vaccine, and new doses are not recommended every RSV season.

Pregnant People - Maternal RSV vaccines are recommended during weeks 32 through 36 to immunize their child.

Infants - If their mother did not receive an RSV vaccine while pregnant with them.

Most people who get RSV vaccines don't have any serious problems. Those who do usually have the following symptoms:

  • Pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Muscle or joint pain

While potentially experiencing these symptoms is inconvenient, it's important to remember that the vaccine provides safe and effective protection against severe RSV infections, which could be deadly.

Clinical pharmacists are available to answer your vaccine questions on Lee Health's MyChart portal.

If you don't have a MyChart account, signing up is quick and easy!

The information on this page was last verified in August of 2024.

For the latest updates on the Chickenpox Vaccine, check out the CDC's website on Vaccines and Preventable Diseases.

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Protect yourself from preventable diseases!