‘A good day’: FDA approves world’s first RSV vaccine

Green light from US regulatory agency for GSK’s jab caps off a decades-long quest.

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MarkAlain Dery, DO, MPH, FACOI

The FDA recently approved GSK’s vaccine for RSV in adults 60 and older. Arexvy, the commercial name for the vaccine, appears to be the first in the world approved for sale to protect older adults from RSV, a potentially fatal respiratory illness. According to the FDA, RSV is associated with upwards of 10,000 deaths annually and 60,000 hospitalizations in adults 65 and older. It is a leading killer of children worldwide. This is excellent news and will likely be approved for annual administration with the influenza vaccine.