RSV Shots Cut Hospitalizations and Deaths by About 80% in U.S. Seniors

Researchers at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration examined health records of 14.8 million Americans aged 65 and older and reported that the RSV vaccines produced by GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer lowered the chance of an RSV-related hospital admission or death by roughly 80%. The real-world effectiveness mirrors the high efficacy observed in clinical trials, alleviating earlier worries that limited RSV activity during the pandemic might have inflated results.

The study also found that vaccinated seniors tended to live in wealthier areas and were more likely to have received flu and COVID-19 shots, but statistical controls showed the vaccine’s benefit persisted. Experts, including Edward Walsh, note that the similarity of outcomes across the two products is reassuring, though the optimal timing for a possible booster remains uncertain. Moderna’s mRNA RSV vaccine, launched in 2024, has seen slower uptake, and further research is needed to determine if repeat dosing yields comparable antibody responses. Ongoing work aims to develop broader respiratory vaccines that could protect against multiple viruses.