2023-08-04 18:33:59
Health Canada has approved the first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for adults age 60 and older.
Doctors are calling for an RSV vaccine for the elderly because although the virus is common, older people are much more likely to become seriously ill and need hospitalization.
The RSV season in Canada usually begins in late fall and lasts until spring.
In a statement, manufacturer GSK says a randomized clinical trial showed the vaccine was 82% effective in preventing lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV compared to elderly people who received a placebo.
The pharmaceutical claims it was 94% effective in preventing disease in older people with underlying health conditions.
For most people, including children, RSV usually causes a mild infection that clears up within a few weeks, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada website.
Infants also at risk
In addition to the elderly, infants are at a higher risk of becoming seriously ill with RSV.
There is no RSV vaccine for children, but there are two types of antibody injections that can be given to high-risk babies to help prevent serious illness.
One, palivizumab, has often been given to babies born prematurely, but it needs to be injected regarding once a month during RSV season to remain effective.
A new antibody drug – nirsevimab, also known by the brand name Beyfortus – was approved by Health Canada in April. Nirsevimab requires only one injection to protect babies during RSV season. It is not yet known how much it will be recommended for babies in Canada this fall.
On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States recommended that babies born just before or during RSV season, as well as babies younger than eight months before the start of the season , receive nirsevimab.
The CDC has also suggested that the vaccine be given to babies between eight and nineteen months old who are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from the virus.
With information from The Associated Press
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