THURSDAY, June 27, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- In new vaccination guidance issued Wednesday, U.S. health officials now recommend that all Americans aged 75 and older get an RSV vaccine before fall arrives.
However, those a bit younger -- ages 60 to 74 -- should only seek the shot if they are vulnerable to severe RSV because of chronic medical conditions such as lung or heart disease, or if they live in nursing homes, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised.
The recommendations came from a committee of CDC advisers and the agency has approved that guidance, making the advice official. "The CDC has updated its RSV vaccination recommendation for older adults to prioritize those at highest risk for serious illness from RSV,” CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said in an agency news release.
“People 75 or older, or between 60-74 with certain chronic health conditions or living in a nursing home, should get one dose of the RSV vaccine to provide an extra layer of protection.” The new guidelines only apply to adults who did not get an RSV vaccine last year, the CDC noted, because people do not need to get a shot every RSV season. The best time to get vaccinated is in late summer and early fall, before RSV starts spreading through the country, the agency added.
Just a year ago, the same CDC advisory panel recommended that people 60 and older simply talk to their doctors about whether to get the shots. Physicians have said the tepid recommendation confused patients an.
