If you are 60 or older, you’re in luck! The FDA has approved not one but TWO RSV Vaccines for YOU!
https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/us-fda-approves-abrysvotm-pfizers-vaccine-prevention
“A vaccine to help prevent RSV had been an elusive public health goal for more than half a century. Today’s approval is a monumental step forward in delivering on Pfizer’s commitment to help alleviate the significant burden of RSV in higher-risk populations, which includes older adults,” said Annaliesa Anderson, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Vaccine Research and Development, Pfizer.
Why has the RSV Vaccine eluded public health officials for over 50 years?
The disastrous formalin-inactivated RSV (FI-RSV) vaccine trial in the in 1960s resulted in the death of two infants following natural exposure and a 16-fold rise in hospitalisation rate in other vaccine recipients. This tragedy, together with an incomplete understanding of the immune response and immune correlates of protection to natural disease, has made RSV vaccine development especially challenging.
Live-attenuated vaccine candidates have been in clinical evaluation for over 50 years and appear safe in seronegative infants, but remain troubled by genetic instability, limited immunogenicity and vaccine virus shedding with secondary infection.
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/10/e008748
FDA panel recommends GSK's RSV vaccine for ages 60 and up
The FDA advisers had some concerns over isolated reports of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and other neurologic conditions in the vaccine recipients, similar to instances reported in Pfizer's RSV vaccine data. The Vaccines and Related Biologics Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) members said, however, that GSK's efficacy date met or exceeded targets, including in groups with underlying health conditions, who are at higher risk for RSV complications. Some members, though, raised concerns about a potentially quick rollout of the vaccine in the fall, alongside COVID-19 and flu shots.
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/adult-non-flu-vaccines/fda-panel-recommends-gsks-rsv-vaccine-ages-60-and
UMMMM….
The second target group is pregnant women.
FDA approves first vaccine to protect infants from RSV
FDA's approval is for use of the vaccine at 32 to 36 weeks gestational age of pregnancy.
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv/fda-approves-first-vaccine-protect-infants-rsv
Despite:
In February 2022, GSK halted vaccination in its phase 3 trials of its maternal RSV vaccine after finding an increased risk of preterm birth in vaccinated mothers, mainly in low and middle income countries.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-05-experts-respiratory-vaccine-trials-preterm.html
AND:
Although not as commonly reported, the safety studies for the vaccines found that, compared with controls, vaccinated people had a slightly higher rate of the pregnancy-related high blood pressure disorder preeclampsia, the FDA noted. The vaccinated group also had a slightly higher risk of preterm birth.
https://www.livescience.com/health/viruses-infections-disease/fda-approves-1st-rsv-vaccine-for-use-in-pregnancy-to-stop-infection-in-newborns
Always a pleasure to see your column!
'Pfizer’s commitment to help alleviate the significant burden of RSV in higher-risk populations, which includes older adults' yeah sure - always follow the money and don't get any of their jabs!