Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine

The nonadjuvanted RSV vaccine is indicated for pregnant people who are 32 to 36 weeks pregnant during the months of September through January in most of the continental United States. However, in some locations (for example, Hawaii, Alaska, and parts of Florida), the timing of vaccination may be different based on the time of year when RSV circulates in that location. People who become pregnant again and who have already received the vaccine during a previous pregnancy do not need another dose. Giving the vaccine during pregnancy helps protect the newborn from RSV for about 6 months after birth because protective antibodies transfer from mother to fetus through the placenta. The vaccine should be given to people even if they were previously infected with RSV.

All 3 RSV vaccines are recommended for all adults age 75 years or older and for some adults age 60 or older. For these age groups, the decision to receive the vaccine should be made after discussing with a health care professional. Specifically, adults 60 and older who are most likely to benefit from a vaccine are those considered to be at increased risk of severe RSV disease, including those with chronic medical conditions such as the following:

• Lung diseases

• Cardiovascular diseases

• Neurologic or neuromuscular conditions

• Kidney disorders

• Liver disorders

• Blood disorders

• Diabetes

• Moderate or severe immunocompromise (resulting from a medical condition or caused by medications or treatments that weaken the immune system)

People who are frail, 75 years old or older, or who reside in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities are also at high risk of severe RSV infection.

People who have had a serious, life-threatening allergic reaction (such as an anaphylactic reaction) to any component in any of the vaccines should not receive a vaccine.

If people have a temporary illness, doctors usually wait to give the vaccine until the illness resolves.