A committee of independent vaccine experts has voted to recommend lowering the age limit for adults who can receive a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, potentially opening access to these vaccines for adults in their 50s. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend RSV vaccines for adults aged 50-59, particularly those with high-risk medical conditions such as lung transplantation, heart failure, or severe obesity.
The recommendation is contingent on the approval of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Insurance companies would cover the cost of the vaccine if approved. A CDC director nomination is currently under review, but CDC chief of staff Matthew Buzzelli will receive the committee’s recommendations.
According to experts, around 30% of U.S. adults aged 50-59 would qualify for RSV vaccination. The current CDC recommendation requires anyone over 75 to get vaccinated or those between 60 and 74 who are at high risk of severe illness from RSV. However, concerns about the vaccines’ efficacy and potential side effects, including an elevated risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome, have slowed broader recommendations.
The committee also recommended use of a new meningococcal vaccine, a chikungunya vaccine for travelers and scientists, and tweaked a previous recommendation for another chikungunya vaccine. The new policy would initially apply to vaccines from GSK and Pfizer, but Moderna’s RSV vaccine is expected to be extended to high-risk adults in the 50-59 age group if approved.
A cost analysis suggests that targeted vaccination could be cost-saving, particularly for individuals with severe chronic conditions. Experts emphasize the importance of considering individual risk factors when deciding whether to receive an RSV vaccine.
Source: https://www.statnews.com/2025/04/16/cdc-acip-advisory-panel-recommends-expanded-rsv-and-two-new-vaccines