Should you get an RSV vaccine this fall? What to know and where to get a shot
The season of never-ending sneezing and stuffy noses is underway, sending Americans to pharmacy lines in hopes of keeping illness at bay with yearly shots.
While flu and COVID-19 vaccines are an annual given for many people, the RSV vaccine isn't quite as universal. Many people associate the virus with babies and young children, but it is more common than many realize, often misdiagnosed as a cold or flu.
After a tumultuous year of changing vaccine guidance and concerns about access, RSV immunization recommendations have remained unchanged. Here's what to know about who should get an RSV shot and where to find one for low or no cost.
What is RSV and who is at risk?
Respiratory syncytial virus is a common respiratory illness named after the virus that causes it. It infects the nose, throat and lungs, causing cold-like symptoms. Its similar presentation to other illnesses like cold or flu can make it hard to identify, but it generally causes only mild symptoms in healthy people.
Severe illness is most commonly associated with babies and young children, who have underdeveloped immune systems and smaller airways more likely to get inflamed and cause breathing trouble, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Adults 65 and older and people with compromised immune systems are also at increased risk of developing complications like bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lungs) and pneumonia.
RSV is contagious and spreads in the fall and winter, usually peaking in December and January, according to the CDC. In cases of severe illness, hospitalization may be required.
In adults and older children, symptoms are similar to other common respiratory illnesses, including cough, runny or stuffy nose, trouble breathing, sore throat, headache, fatigue, fever and loss of appetite. It can look a little different in infants and young children, with symptoms including fussiness, irritability, difficulty breathing, and loss of appetite.
Signs of more severe illness include worsening shortness of breath, wheezing, shallow breathing, struggling to drink enough liquids and blueish skin, lips or nails.
