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RSV Vaccines

Generic name: RSV Vaccines
Brand names: Arexvy, Abrysvo, mRESVIA
Dosage form: injection (intramuscular)
Drug class: Viral vaccines

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Oct 30, 2024.

What is an RSV vaccine?

Abrysvo (Pfizer), Arexvy (GSK), and mRESVIA (Moderna) are RSV vaccines that are used to prevent severe RSV symptoms in adults aged 60 years and older. Abrysvo is also used in late pregnancy (32-36 weeks) to protect newborns through to 6 months old from severe RSV symptoms and in adults aged 18 through 59 at high risk of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) from RSV. Arexvy is also approved for adults aged 50 and older at high risk of LRTD.

The mechanism of action of RSV vaccines involves stimulating the immune system to make antibodies against the respiratory syncytial virus which helps prevent severe symptoms of lower respiratory tract disease and reduces the risk of hospitalization or death in at-risk patients.

When pregnant, the RSV vaccine Abrysvo helps the mother's body make antibodies to the virus that are then passed through the placenta to the unborn baby. This will help protect the baby up to 6 months old against lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV.

Arexvy RSV vaccine was FDA-approved in May 2023 for adults aged 60+ to prevent severe symptoms caused by RSV. Approval was extended on June 7, 2024 to include adults aged 50 through 59 years with certain chronic medical conditions that put them at increased risk of LRTD caused by RSV.

Abrysvo vaccine first received FDA approval on May 31, 2023, for adults aged 60 and older. This approval was extended on August 21, 2023, to include pregnant women from 32 through 36 weeks gestation, and further extended to include adults aged 18 through 59 years at higher risk of LRTD on October 22, 2024.

mRESVIA RSV vaccine was FDA-approved in May 2024 and is the first mRNA-based RSV vaccine for adults aged 60+.

What is RSV?

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a common virus that affects the lungs and respiratory passages. While most people experience mild cold-like symptoms, RSV can cause severe illness in infants, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems. RSV vaccines help prevent severe lower respiratory tract disease and reduce the risk of hospitalization or death in higher-risk patients.

RSV Symptoms

RSV symptoms in adults include:

RSV symptoms in infants and young children include:

RSV may cause severe illness, including bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (lung infection).

RSV Vaccine for Adults

RSV vaccines  Abrysvo (Pfizer), Arexvy (GSK), and mRESVIA (Moderna) are indicated for adults aged 60 years and older as they are at higher risk of severe RSV, which can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and death.

For adults who are 60 years old or older, their risk of severe RSV is increased further if they also have:

Arexvy is also approved for adults aged 50 through 59 years with certain chronic medical conditions (such as chronic pulmonary disease, chronic cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney or liver disease) that put them at increased risk of LRTD caused by RSV.

Abrysvo's FDA approval also includes adults aged 18 through 59 years at high risk of LRTD from RSV and pregnant women from 32 through 36 weeks gestation.

RSV vaccines in pregnancy

Abrysvo may be given in late pregnancy to help protect the baby when it is born and up until 6 months of age against severe LRTD caused by RSV.  When Abrysvo is given from week 32 through to 36 weeks of pregnancy, it helps the mother's body make antibodies to the virus which are passed through the placenta to the unborn baby to protect the baby from severe RSV once it has been born.

RSV vaccine side effects

Common RSV vaccine side effects may include:

Serious RSV vaccine side effects may include:

Allergy: Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction, such as hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Respiratory syncytial virus vaccine may cause other serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

Warning

Fainting may occur when receiving injectable vaccines. Use caution to avoid falling or accidental injury. Patients who are immunocompromised, including those receiving immunosuppressive therapy, may have a reduced immune response to RSV vaccines.

Becoming infected with respiratory syncytial virus is much more dangerous to your health than receiving this vaccine.

You should not receive another dose of this vaccine if you had a life-threatening allergic reaction after the first shot.

RSV vaccine costs

The cost of the RSV vaccine varies by provider and insurance coverage. Insurance plans may cover the vaccine as preventive care.

Check with your healthcare provider for details about availability and cost.

RSV vaccine dosing information

The RSV vaccines are administered as a single injection into the muscle.

Usual doses:

Arexvy (GSK): 0.5 mL intramuscularly as a single dose for adults 50+.

Abrysvo (Pfizer): 0.5 mL intramuscularly as a single dose for adults 18+ and pregnant individuals (32-36 weeks gestation).

mRESVIA (Moderna): 0.5 mL intramuscularly as a single dose for adults 60+.

What happens if I miss a dose?

The RSV vaccine is a single-dose injection. Missing a dose is unlikely, as it does not follow a multi-dose schedule.

What happens if I overdose?

An overdose of this vaccine is unlikely to occur.

What should I avoid while receiving this vaccine?

Follow your vaccination provider's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Interactions

Before receiving this vaccine, tell your vaccination provider about all other vaccines you have recently received.

Other drugs may affect this vaccine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

Not all possible interactions are listed here.

Does rsv vaccine, pref a-pref b, recombinant interact with my other drugs?

Enter medications to view a detailed interaction report using our Drug Interaction Checker.

Storage

Arexvy Storage

Storage before reconstitution

Adjuvant suspension component vials and Lyophilized antigen component vials:

Storage after Reconstitution

Abrysvo Storage

Storage Before Reconstitution

Storage After Reconstitution

mRESVIA Storage

Store frozen between -40°C to -15°C (-40°F to 5°F).

Pre-filled plastic syringes may be stored refrigerated between 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) for up to
30 days before use, or between 8°C to 25°C (46°F to 77°F) for a total of 24 hours after removal from refrigerated conditions.

Ingredients

Arexvy

Arexvy active ingredient: 120 mcg of the recombinant RSVPreF3 antigen, 25 mcg of MPL, and 25 mcg of QS-21.

Arexvy inactive ingredients 14.7 mg of Trehalose, 4.4 mg of sodium chloride, 0.83 mg of potassium dihydrogen phosphate, 0.26 mg of dipotassium phosphate, 0.18 mg of polysorbate 80, 0.15 mg of disodium phosphate anhydrous, 0.5 mg of DOPC, and 0.125 mg of cholesterol.
Arexvy contains no preservative.

Abrysvo

Abrysvo active ingredient: RSV stabilized prefusion F proteins (60 mcg RSV preF A and 60 mcg RSV preF B) per 0.5 mL.

Abrysvo inactive ingredients: 0.11 mg tromethamine, 1.04 mg tromethamine hydrochloride, 11.3 mg sucrose, 22.5 mg mannitol, 0.08 mg polysorbate 80, and 1.1 mg sodium chloride per 0.5 mL.
Abrysvo contains no preservatives.

mRESVIA

mRESVIA active ingredient: messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) that encodes for the RSV F glycoprotein

mRESVIA inactive ingredients: lipids (SM-102, polyethylene glycol dimyristoyl glycerol [PEG2000-DMG], cholesterol, and 1,2- distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine [DSPC]), tromethamine, tromethamine hydrochloride, acetic acid, sodium acetate trihydrate, sucrose, water.
mRESVIA does not contain a preservative.

Company

Arexvy 

Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals Rixensart, Belgium, U.S. License 1617.

Distributed by GlaxoSmithKline Durham, NC 27701.

Abrysvo

Manufactured by Pfizer Inc. NY, NY 10001.

Distributed by Pfizer Inc. NY, NY 10001.

mRESVIA

Manufactured for ModernaTX, Inc.

Rsv vaccine, pref a-pref b, recombinant Biosimilars

Biosimilar and interchangeable products are biological products that are highly similar to and have no clinically meaningful differences from the reference product.

Reference products

These are biological products that have already been approved by the FDA, against which biosimilar products are compared. There is 1 for rsv vaccine, pref a-pref b, recombinant.

Abrysvo (Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine) - Pfizer Inc.
Formulation type Strength
Single-Dose Vial 120 mcg

View Abrysvo information in detail.

Popular FAQ

What is the difference between Arexvy and Abrysvo?

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). They are also approved for adults aged 50 through 59 years (Arexvy) or aged 18 through 59 (Abrysvo) with certain chronic medical conditions (such as chronic pulmonary disease, chronic cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney or liver disease) that put them at increased risk of LRTD caused by RSV. 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

What are the symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)?

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

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.