With the arrival of fall also comes the arrival of respiratory illness season, a time when many are at increased risk of getting sick from respiratory viruses that commonly circulate that time of year. Tom, a GSK patient advocate and 70-year-old grandfather, spends a lot of time with his grandchildren and may be exposed to viruses from their daily lives elsewhere. Last November, he noticed his grandson coughing quite a bit but just assumed it was a cold or the flu. Shortly thereafter, Tom’s symptoms began. His symptoms started with a cough, but he could quickly tell that this illness was something different from what he had ever felt before. “The cough was relentless, like something was in my lungs that wouldn’t go away no matter how hard I coughed. I didn’t have the energy to do the things I enjoyed. When my symptoms continued to get worse, I knew this wasn’t a cold,” Tom explained.
Tom didn’t know it then, but he was eventually diagnosed with RSV.
Understanding RSV for Older Adults
RSV is a contagious respiratory virus that regularly circulates in the fall and winter months. For most people, RSV causes only mild symptoms, such as a runny nose, sneezing, dry coughing, sore throat, headache, or low-grade fever. However, in certain people (such as older adults, including those with certain health conditions like chronic heart or lung disease), RSV can develop into a lung infection or pneumonia and may lead to hospitalization.
RSV can spread when someone who is infected coughs or sneezes. Those living with other people, or who regularly visit friends and family (such as grandchildren), can catch the virus through close contact or from contaminated surfaces. People infected with RSV are typically contagious for 3-8 days.
“I was out of commission for five weeks, and after five weeks I could only be active for about an hour before I had to rest again. RSV can make your life ‘time-out.’ For those of us who had very severe cases of it, it cuts into our day-to-day. RSV caused a burden not only on me, but also my friends and family who had to help out.”
Older adults face a risk of serious illness from RSV due to immune systems weakening as people age. RSV causes over 177,000 hospitalizations in US adults 65 and older each year. For adults 60 years and older, some data suggest an increased risk for severe RSV infection that can lead to hospitalization.
“After several days of feeling horrible, I went to my doctor to see what was going on,” said Tom. “My doctor diagnosed me with RSV and explained to me that adults can get it, but the adults who seem to be affected by it the most are older adults, and that was the reason that I was having such a bad case of it.”
Vaccinations Are Available to Help Prevent RSV
This fall is the first RSV season when vaccinations are available for older adults to help protect against RSV in the US. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults 60 years of age and older may receive a single dose of RSV vaccine, based on a discussion between a healthcare provider and a patient.
One of the available vaccinations is AREXVY (Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine, Adjuvanted), an FDA-approved vaccine used to prevent lung and lower airway infection from RSV in people 60 years and older. In a clinical trial, AREXVY was overall 82.6% effective against lung and lower airway infection from RSV in adults aged 60 and older. And AREXVY was 94.6% effective in preventing lung and lower airway infection from RSV in people aged 60 years and older with asthma, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic heart failure, advanced liver or kidney disease, or any chronic respiratory/pulmonary disease.
What Is AREXVY?
AREXVY is an FDA-approved vaccine for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by respiratory syncytial virus in people 60 years of age and older.
Important Safety Information for AREXVY
- You should not receive AREXVY if you are allergic to any of its ingredients
- Fainting can happen after getting injectable vaccines, including AREXVY. Precautions should be taken to avoid injury due to fainting
- Some people with weakened immune systems may have reduced immune responses to AREXVY
- The most common side effects are injection site pain, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and joint pain
- Vaccination with AREXVY may not result in protection of all vaccine recipients
- Ask your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of AREXVY. Only a healthcare provider can decide if AREXVY is right for you
“I’m sharing my own experiences with RSV in the hope that other people like me will be aware of the potential impact a severe case can have,” said Tom. “Don’t take the risk. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about vaccination.”
AREXVY is now widely available at all major retail pharmacies, though stock in individual stores will vary. Patients should ask their doctor or pharmacist if AREXVY is covered by their insurance.
AREXVY is given as a single dose shot that can be given at the same time as a quadrivalent influenza vaccine. Talk to your doctor or visit www.AREXVY.com to learn more.
Please see full Prescribing Information.
You are encouraged to report vaccine adverse events to the US Department of Health and Human Services. Visit www.vaers.hhs.gov to file a report, or call 1-800-822-7967.
Tom was compensated by GSK for his participation in this program.
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RSAADVR230010 November 2023
Produced in USA.
