How long can RSV protect the elderly? The study shows a sudden shield for two years

RSV causes a significant seasonal disease during the fall and winter in the United States, with an estimated 100,000-150,000 hospitals and 4000-8,000 deaths annually between 60 or larger adults.

The results reinforce the recommendations of the RSV vaccines in the elderly and lay the foundation to understand the period in which one dose of the vaccine may be effective, according to Wesley Silf, MD, MPH, the main researcher of IVY Network and Vice President of Clinical Research at the University of Vanderbilt Medical Center.

“These results clearly prove that RSV vaccines prevent hospitals and critical disease due to the RSV infection between the older Americans,” Silf said. “It is exciting to see the general health benefits of the new vaccination program.”

Researchers used data from a multi -center hospital network known as IVY (investigating respiratory viruses in the acute patient network) to assess the effectiveness of the RSV vaccine. They used the design of a negative study in the test, between 6,958 people 60 years or older who were transferred to the hospital with acute respiratory disease in one of 26 hospitals in 20 US states during the RSV seasons from October 1, 2023-March 31, 2024 and 1 October, 2024, 3025.

In general, vaccination reduced the risk of hospitalization in RSV by 58 % during the two RSV seasons, including 69 % in the first year after vaccination and 48 % in the second year after vaccination.

“Our data shows that the beneficial effects of RSV vaccines seem to fade over time,” Silf said. “Reducing the vaccine in some time break after the initial dose can be a strategy to maintain protection over longer periods of time. It will be important to continue to monitor the effectiveness of the vaccine closely over time to understand the time that the benefit takes after one dose and if repeated doses are considered.”

The current RSV vaccine recommendations for all adults between the ages of 75 or older and those between the ages of 60 and 74 and are at increased risk of severe RSV.

This study was funded by the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the 75D30122c14944 award.