July 3, 2025 – The CDC published a new recommendation this week calling for some adults ages 50 to 59 to get vaccinated for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Public health experts predict that if 20% of all newly eligible U.S. adults get vaccinated, it would prevent about 5,200 hospitalizations, 1,100 ICU stays, and 333 deaths annually.
Here's what you should know, and what the new recommendation means for you.
What is the RSV vaccine? Three versions are approved by the FDA: Pfizer's Abrysvo, GSK's Arexvy, and Moderna's mRESVIA. Any of these can protect you against respiratory syncytial virus, which infects the lungs and respiratory tract. Most RSV cases are mild, but they can be serious in children, older adults, and people with compromised immune systems.
Who is the new recommendation for? Adults ages 50 to 59 with certain medical conditions, or who live in a nursing home or rural community with limited medical care access.
Who was the vaccine already recommended for? Adults ages 60 to 74 with risk factors, and all people ages 75 and older. The vaccine is also recommended for people who are between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy during RSV season (from September through January), to protect newborns during their first RSV season.
Why did the recommended age change? Federal health officials updated the recommendation because new evidence supports RSV vaccination for adults in the 50-59 age group who have health conditions. This change comes after a previous call for more research – particularly on potential risks like Guillain-Barré syndrome (a neurological condition). The latest data shows that vaccination reduces a person's risk of hospitalization due to RSV by 75%, leading health officials to conclude that the benefits outweigh the risks for the newly recommended age group.
I already got an RSV vaccine. Should I get another one this year? No, RSV is not an annual vaccine.
When should I get the RSV shot? The best time for adults to get an RSV vaccine is late summer or early fall, the CDC says, but it's OK to get it at any time, such as during your routine physical appointment. The optimal months are August through October, before the rise of respiratory viruses during late fall and winter.
I'm over 50 and haven't gotten an RSV vaccine before. How do I know if I should get one? If you're 75 or older, the CDC recommends you get vaccinated against RSV. If you're between 50 and 74, you may be eligible if you're at high risk of severe RSV illness. Talk to your doctor, or if you know you have certain risk factors, you can ask for the vaccine. These risk factors include:
- Chronic cardiovascular disease (heart failure, coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease)
- Chronic lung or respiratory disease, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, asthma, interstitial lung disease, and cystic fibrosis
- End-stage renal disease or dependence on hemodialysis or other renal replacement therapy
- Type 1 or type 2 diabetes complicated by chronic kidney disease, neuropathy, retinopathy, or other end-organ damage
- Type 1 or type 2 diabetes requiring treatment with insulin or a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor
- Neurologic or neuromuscular conditions that impair breathing (post-stroke dysphagia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophy)
- Chronic liver disease, such as cirrhosis
- Chronic hematologic conditions, such as sickle cell disease or thalassemia
- Severe obesity (body mass index of 40 or higher)
- A compromised immune system
- Residence in a nursing home
- Other chronic medical conditions or risk factors a doctor believes could increase the risk of severe disease due to viral respiratory infection (such as frailty, a potentially undiagnosed medical condition, or living in a rural community with limited medical care access)
