The RSV vaccine can be given to:
- Adults aged 75 years and older. This group is routinely offered the vaccine as they are at higher risk of severe RSV disease and hospitalization.
- Adults aged 50 to 74 years who have increased risk factors for severe RSV disease, such as chronic heart or lung disease, weakened immune systems, or living in nursing homes.
- Pregnant women, typically between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy, to protect the baby during the first few months after birth.
- Babies born during the RSV season and young infants up to 8 months old who are at high risk due to prematurity or other medical conditions (in some countries).
- Older adults aged 75 to 79 years or those turning 80 after a specified date are often included in vaccination catch-up programs.
The vaccine is typically given as a single dose and does not need to be repeated annually. It may be offered alongside other vaccines like COVID-19, shingles, or pneumococcal vaccines but usually not with the flu vaccine. Eligibility and program details vary slightly by country (e.g., UK, US, Canada, Australia, Ireland), but older adults, pregnant women, and high-risk infants and children are the common priority groups for RSV vaccination in 2025.
