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Is Arexvy a live vaccine?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Aug 28, 2023.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Arexvy is not a live vaccine it is a recombinant subunit vaccine that does not contain any live virus. Recombinant vaccines are made by taking a small piece of DNA that codes for a specific protein (called an antigen) on the virus (in this case the respiratory syncytial virus [RSV]) and inserted into bacteria or yeast cells in a laboratory to manufacture the vaccine. The vaccine helps your body's immune system make proteins called antibodies against the virus. These antibodies will help prevent infection by attacking the virus if it ever infects your body.

References
  • Arexvy Product Information. May 2023. https://www.fda.gov/media/167805/download

Read next

Arexvy and Abrysvo are both RSV vaccines that are approved for use in adults over the age of 60 to reduce their risk of developing lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD). Abrysvo is also approved for use in pregnant women between 32 through 36 weeks gestation, to protect infants against LRTD from the moment they are born until they are 6 months of age. Arexvy is made by GSK and was approved on May 3, 2023; the first RSV vaccine to be approved for older adults. Abrysvo is made by Pfizer and was approved on May 31, 2023; the second RSV vaccine to be approved for older adults. Continue reading

RSV symptoms are runny nose, sore throat, stuffy nose, cough
wheezing, headache, and fever for adults and RSV symptoms in the young include decreased activity, irritability, and breathing difficulties. Continue reading

Just one shot of Arexvy into the deltoid muscle of the upper arm is needed to protect people aged 60 years of age and older against lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).  Continue reading

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