The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine is a new weapon in the fight against a common respiratory virus. While typically causing mild, cold-like symptoms, RSV can be serious for infants and older adults, especially those with chronic health conditions. A common respiratory virus is a type of virus that infects your respiratory tract, the system responsible for breathing. This includes your nose, sinuses, throat, airways, and lungs. These viruses are highly contagious and very common, causing illnesses like the common cold, flu, and bronchiolitis. There are many different types of common respiratory viruses, each with slightly different symptoms and severities like rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus (Flu), parainfluenza virus, and adenovirus.

Previously recommended for all adults 60 and older, recent guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been revised. Now, the vaccine is strongly recommended for all adults 75 and older. For adults aged 60 to 74, vaccination is still advised but with a caveat - it's recommended only if they have certain underlying medical conditions that increase their risk of severe RSV illness. This change comes after studies suggested a potential link between the vaccine and a rare neurological disorder in some younger adults. The doctor in charge at the CDC, Mandy Cohen, says the RSV vaccine is really important for people in nursing homes because they can get very sick from RSV. The good news is one only needs this vaccine once.

The primary reasoning for Change is a potential link between the vaccine and a rare neurological disorder called Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in some adults aged 60-74 and focus on protecting the most vulnerable population (adults 75+) who are at highest risk for severe RSV complications should be primary.

In the US, there are two main approaches to dealing with RSV: preventing infection and treating symptoms. For prevention, there are actually no RSV medications available. However, there are two recently approved vaccines: Abrysvo and Arexvy. These are single-dose shots recommended for adults 75 and older, as well as some adults aged 60-74 with certain health conditions. For treating RSV infection itself, there's only one FDA-approved medication: Ribavirin. It's an antiviral drug typically used only for severe RSV cases in hospitalized high-risk patients, like infants or immunocompromised individuals. It's important to note that Ribavirin has limited effectiveness and can be expensive.

Ideally, one should get vaccinated during late summer or early fall before the typical RSV season begins. Consult doctor, particularly if a person is within the 60-74 age group and has underlying health conditions. This vaccine offers valuable protection against a potentially serious respiratory illness, especially for the most vulnerable populations.