What is RSV? Should I vaccinate?
What is RSV and how is it different from the flu? Do I need a vaccine? — Julie, Florida
The other night, while my boyfriend and I were watching our new favorite TV show (Yellowstone), an ad came on for GSK’s respiratory syncytial virus vaccine, Arexvy. He asked me why he’d never even heard of RSV until recently. It sure does seem like it’s everywhere these days.
RSV is a highly contagious lung infection that peaks in the winter months, much like Covid and the flu.
“They occur at the same time of the year and share some symptoms, so it is very difficult for people to tell which respiratory virus they have without testing,” says Katrine Wallace, an epidemiologist at University of Illinois at Chicago.
Both RSV and the flu can range in severity from mild to severe. The two viruses also share many symptoms, including fever, cough and a runny nose. It’s possible to have both RSV and the flu at the same time.
“People at highest risk for severe disease in RSV are babies and the elderly, and people at highest risk for severe influenza are the elderly and pregnant people,” says Wallace, adding that the virus is the number one cause of hospitalization in young children.
Like the flu and Covid, RSV is transmitted person-to-person via respiratory droplets. But it can be more easily transmitted than the flu — even by touching objects like doorknobs that have virus particles on them.
While RSV has been getting a lot of publicity lately, it’s actually a very old and very common disease. Almost all children will have had RSV by their second birthday. It’s partly attracted so much attention lately because cases surged when we started gathering again after pandemic-related lockdowns.
The virus is still spreading quickly, prompting warnings from health officials. At the end of December, the CDC issued a health alert.
“Levels of respiratory virus are increasing, hospitalizations are increasing, and vaccine uptake for this season is far below what is needed,” Wallace says.
When looking at the high case numbers, it’s also important to keep in mind we’re probably testing for RSV more than before the pandemic. That’s because our experience with Covid made us more vigilant about identifying respiratory viruses, according to Wallace.
We’ve also learned some good strategies to cope with viral spread. Those include staying home when you’re sick, covering your mouth when you sneeze or cough, masking and washing your hands. If you’re especially concerned about catching or transmitting the illness, you can also avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
And of course, if you’re eligible, you can get a vaccine. There are now several vaccines approved for people in high-risk groups, including older people and pregnant people. There’s also an RSV monoclonal antibody for infants up to 19 months, which helps prevent the illness. — Kristen V. Brown
Enjoyed this article? Sign up for our newsletter to receive regular insights and stay connected.