FDA Approves First RSV Vaccine for Adults 60 and Up

The FDA has approved GSK's vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for adults aged 60 and older, making it the first vaccine in the world approved for sale to protect older adults from RSV. RSV is associated with 6,000 to 10,000 deaths each year in adults 65 and older and at least 60,000 hospitalizations in that age group. The GSK vaccine was nearly 83 percent effective in preventing lower respiratory tract illness in adults 60 and older in a study of about 25,000 patients. The vaccine will be available in the fall at local U.S. pharmacies, clinics, and other health care settings.