New RSV vaccine could prevent severe illness in seniors and infants

BOSTON - A new RSV vaccine shows promise in preventing severe respiratory illness in seniors and infants.

RSV is a virus that not only causes serious respiratory infection in infants, but in older adults as well. A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that an investigational RSV vaccine, given by single injection and developed by Pfizer, was effective at protecting people over 60 from RSV-related lower respiratory illness, such as acute bronchitis and pneumonia.

In a separate study, when the vaccine was given to women in late pregnancy, their infants were less likely to develop significant RSV-related illness, like bronchiolitis.

In both studies, there were no apparent safety concerns. Of note, both trials were funded by Pfizer.

Mallika Marshall, MD

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who has served as the HealthWatch Reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

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