Respiratory Syncytial Virus

The panelists address the challenges of administering multiple vaccines to eligible patients, while also discussing the timing and compatibility of administering certain vaccines simultaneously. They emphasize the importance of being receptive to patient concerns and providing guidance on childhood vaccinations for hesitant individuals.

Lauren Angelo, PharmD, MBA, acknowledges the progress made in RSV vaccinations but emphasizes the persistent need to educate at-risk patients about the advantages of vaccination, citing data indicating that many patients are willing to get vaccinated but may require encouragement, and concurs that the lack of physician referral remains a crucial barrier to improving vaccination rates among high-risk groups.

Medical professionals explore social determinants of health, including access to and quality of health care, information sources, community context, and built environment, while also examining the influence of race, ethnicity, language on these factors.

The panelists define vaccine fatigue and identify its primary causes as confusing messaging and the high number of annual vaccinations suggested, emphasizing that the most effective way to combat this fatigue is by tailoring the vaccine information and recommendations to the individual patient's specific needs.

Addressing the long-term effects of RSV in older adults is crucial for public health and patient care.

Prevention of acute cardiac events may be another consideration for future postlicensure studies of RSV vaccines.

Rodney E. Rohde, PhD, SM, SV, MB (ASCP), FACSc, leads a discussion on contraindications for vaccination, such as severe allergic reaction history, acute illness with or without fever, and the optimal timing for vaccination during pregnancy.

Panelists compare the currently available RSV vaccines for adults, considering their target populations, dosing, and administration to prevent RSV infection.

The severity of RSV disease among adults further highlights how crucial vaccine polices and recommendations are.

The results displayed well tolerability and safety with Abrysvo, meeting the study’s co-primary endpoint of immunogenicity and primary safety

Investigators reported a low incidence of adverse events after simultaneous vaccination against seasonal influenza and respiratory syncytial virus.

Calder’s 3D Vaxlock technology attained 11 times more effective immune response, compared to typical comparator.

The adjuvanted RSVPreF3 vaccine could prevent nearly 3 million symptomatic RSV-ARI cases among US older adults over 3 years’ time, according to study results.

Shared decision making with patients is a key component of RSV vaccination, which can bring challenges and opportunities.

The at-home test offers the availability to assess for all viruses using one tool.

Only 9% of older adults who reside in the United States had been vaccinated to protect themselves from RSV this fall and winter.

The finding highlighted the importance of RSV risks among older adults, and aids pharmacists’ awareness when patients are hesitant to receive the RSV vaccine.

The updated indication for the respiratory syncytial virus vaccine is for adults aged 50 to 59 with underlying conditions who are at an increased risk of contracting the virus.

The CDC recommends RSV vaccination for all adults aged 60 years and older.

Addressing complacency, confidence, and convenience are all crucial to increasing vaccine uptake.

Older adults, patients with weakened immune systems, individuals living in long-term facilities, and those with underlying cardiopulmonary disease are at a higher risk of developing severe RSV infection outcomes.

The burden of RSV in the older population is becoming highly recognized as studies have assessed higher-risk individuals in industrialized and developing countries.

Older adults without a Part D plan face costs ranging from $180 to $295 per shot.

The schedule includes RSV vaccination, along with updated versions of the COVID-19 vaccine.

WIth 31% of the US population living in a health care provider shortage area, current bills in Congress look to broaden the scope of pharmacists’ role in patient care.

RSV could interact with nerve cells, causing nerve damage and possible entry to the spinal cord.

If vaccination coverage was increased by 100%, outpatient care could be reduced by 81.2%, hospitalizations by 91.7%, and deaths by 91.3%.

The study highlights the ongoing need for health care providers to recommend respiratory illness vaccinations to increase protection among nursing home residents during the peak season of infection.

From newsworthy moments to groundbreaking research, these were the most-read respiratory syncytial virus-related articles on Pharmacy Times in 2023.

The most recent advances included an approved vaccine that could immunize both the elderly and pregnant women, along with the release of nirsevimab.