Inroads in vaccines for the elderly and a monoclonal antibody for newborns raise hope for a less-severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season, while the flu vaccine being put in arms this fall is formulated for three strains of influenza virus instead of the standard four due to a common strain likely going extinct.
Those are a few developments as, notably this fall, “Flu shots here” sandwich boards begin to compete with election signs.
Within the past year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved RSV vaccines produced by a handful of biopharmaceutical companies that are for people 60 and over. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults 75 and older, and adults 60 to 74 who are at higher risk, receive a single dose of the RSV vaccine.
“We already have evidence that that’s reducing the number of RSV infections, which is great news,” said Jenna Guthmiller, PhD, assistant professor of immunology and microbiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “Secondly, there was (FDA) approval for a monoclonal antibody against RSV that is being given to newborns, and it can provide protection for about six months … It could really be the difference between your kid getting RSV and not.”
In the following Q&A, Guthmiller explains the new trivalent flu vaccine, talks about the combination mRNA coronavirus-flu vaccine on the horizon, and shares tips on other ways to protect against getting the flu virus in the months ahead.