{"id":87141,"date":"2022-01-03T04:53:38","date_gmt":"2022-01-03T09:53:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.healthstatus.com\/?page_id=87141"},"modified":"2022-07-25T03:11:37","modified_gmt":"2022-07-25T07:11:37","slug":"respiratory-syncytial-virus","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.healthstatus.com\/respiratory-syncytial-virus\/","title":{"rendered":"Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine Reviews ➡️ Results 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

RSV, or Respiratory syncytial virus, is one of the leading causes of acute respiratory illness among infants and older adults<\/strong>. In the United States alone, the virus is responsible for the hospitalization of at least 177,000 older adults each year, 14,000 of whom die due to the infections.<\/span><\/p>\n

RSV<\/strong> also causes about 3 million children below the age of five to be hospitalized out of an estimated 33 million cases reported annually. Of these children, about 120,000 die from complications associated with the infection every year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These statistics<\/strong> indicate the staggering disease burden of the respiratory syncytial virus<\/strong> and why a corresponding vaccine is of the essence. But are there any immunization options currently available for RSV? Read along to learn about the respiratory syncytial virus<\/strong>, how to manage it and any immunization options currently approved for RSV.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What is Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)?<\/h2>\n

Respiratory syncytial virus<\/strong>, or RSV,<\/strong> is a pathogen that commonly causes acute respiratory illness.\u00a0It affects the lungs and airways leading into and out of the lungs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While the virus can attack and affect people of all ages, infants, young children below five years old, and older adults, especially with prior medical conditions, are at the highest risk of RSV infections<\/strong> and related complications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"What<\/p>\n

The virus<\/strong> usually causes mild symptoms<\/strong> similar to a common cold. While most people infected with the respiratory syncytial virus<\/strong> recover in a week or two, others often require hospitalization and proper treatment to recover.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RSV<\/strong> is typically more serious and even lethal for infants under five years old and older adults. Both groups of people can get critical with an RSV infection<\/strong> if they have existing medical conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Often, RSV infection is associated with other life-threatening conditions<\/strong> that emerge following an RSV attack. It is the most common cause of pneumonia (a lung infection) and bronchiolitis (inflammation of the lower respiratory tract) in children below two years old in the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n

Acute respiratory infection resulting from the respiratory syncytial virus<\/strong> is a leading cause of morbidity and death in children below five years worldwide. According to global estimates, RSV is associated with approximately 0.3 million deaths in young children yearly.<\/strong> The majority of these deaths are recorded in low-income countries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Summary\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Virus Name\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Available vaccine\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nNo approved vaccine is available yet<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mode of transmission\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nTransmissible through contact with droplets from the nose and throat of infected persons when they sneeze or cough.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Treatment\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nHospitalized patients may require oxygen, mechanical ventilation, or intubation to support breathing.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Related conditions<\/b><\/td>\nPneumonia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and congestive heart failure<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ideal candidates for vaccination\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nOlder adults with chronic medical conditions and children, especially below five years old<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Symptoms of infection\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nInitial RSV symptoms include congestion, fever, sore throat, runny nose, and cough. Infected infants may become fatigued, irritable, and experience breathing difficulties.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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What is Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine?<\/h2>\n

\"WhatAn RSV vaccine is an inoculation that helps prevent infection by the respiratory syncytial virus.<\/strong> No licensed RSV vaccine<\/strong> exists yet, but various pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are in the process of developing immunization options against the virus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Respiratory syncytial virus vaccine development began in the 1960s<\/strong> and was aborted after an unsuccessful start. Initial tests of the vaccine-induced<\/strong> a severe inflammatory response of the lungs that resulted in two deaths of participating infants. Consequently, all attempts to develop a vaccine against RSV stopped for several years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The initial vaccine<\/strong> failure raised concerns over its safety and possible efficacy, hindering the development of alternative vaccines against the virus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thankfully, scientists continued to seek a better understanding of the working of the respiratory syncytial virus. These efforts seem to have borne fruit since multiple vaccine candidates have entered clinical development<\/strong> in recent years. A number of these potential vaccines are almost ready for end-stage human trials and only await regulatory approval.<\/span><\/p>\n

So far, the candidate vaccines<\/strong> developed through various means have shown promising results, shading a ray of light into the future of RSV<\/strong> prevention. The vaccines work differently from the original ones developed in the 1960s. The results of various tests indicate the possibility of having a working RSV vaccine<\/strong> for infants and young children in the near future.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why has RSV Vaccine been delayed?<\/h2>\n

Several decades have passed since the 1960s, when the first attempt to create an RSV vaccine<\/strong> was made. To date, no vaccine has been approved for RSV<\/strong> or the respiratory syncytial virus.<\/strong> Why are numerous vaccines now in the pipeline for the first time in such a long time?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The virus triggers an immune response that is much different from other known viruses. While this may not be the main reason behind the tragic failure of the initial RSV vaccine in the 1960s, it made developing an efficacious immunization challenging.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Why<\/p>\n

Unlike many common viruses, RSV<\/strong> has a natural adaptation protecting it from the body\u2019s systemic immunity. It can evade much of the victim\u2019s systemic immune mechanisms as it resides primarily outside of the body.<\/span><\/p>\n

This adaptation makes the virus pretty evasive compared to other pathogens such as morbillivirus (measles-causing virus). If the latter infects your body,<\/strong> your system recognizes it and develops a permanent immunity against it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, if the respiratory syncytial virus infects your body, there will be no immune memory<\/strong> to recognize it the next time it attacks. So you can still acquire the virus in the future and get sick.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This evasive tactic of RSV<\/strong> is partly the reason it took so long to understand how to develop lasting protection against RSV.<\/strong> Nonetheless, scientists are now highly optimistic about the future of RSV<\/strong> immunization after making some significant breakthroughs over the last few years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ideally, scientists needed to conduct thorough research to come up with a conclusive way to approach the vaccine question. This long-drawn-out process has resulted in dozens of investigational RSV vaccine<\/strong> trials with good potential.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Which RSV vaccines are under development?<\/h2>\n

Three different types of vaccines are currently in the pipeline for use against RSV.<\/strong> These categorizations result from the strategies used to develop the vaccines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>
\n

Type 1: F protein of the virus<\/h3>\n

The first type of immunization against the respiratory syncytial virus involves using the Virus\u2019 F protein<\/strong> on pregnant women with the aim of transferring the protection to the unborn baby.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This strategy involves intramuscular administration of the F protein<\/strong> of the virus to expectant mothers at a specified pregnancy window. The protein is intended to boost the mothers\u2019 antibody response, which is then transferred to the unborn baby.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Administering this vaccine is supposed to occur within a specific window for optimum protection. Ideally, it should happen early enough to protect the baby from infections.<\/span><\/p>\n

Scientists also intend to use this vaccine in elderly patients at risk of RSV infections.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Type2: Live-attenuated virus vaccine<\/h3>\n

The second vaccine type follows the same approach as most vaccines available in the market today.<\/strong> It involves a gene-based delivery<\/strong> of a live-attenuated virus into the patient\u2019s body. This type of vaccine is designed for young children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is currently the most prevalent approach that multiple pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are pursuing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Type 3: Monoclonal antibody vaccine<\/h3>\n

The final vaccine<\/strong> type developed for use against the respiratory syncytial virus involves using a\u00a0monoclonal antibody<\/strong> to attack the surfaces on the virus\u2019 F protein<\/strong> in infants at birth.<\/span><\/p>\n

This approach is termed passive immunity since it is technically not a vaccine but a form of protection against the evasive virus. Currently, some biotechnology companies are using this approach to develop an exclusive treatment against RSV<\/strong> for high-risk children.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some scientists say the protection is highly potent and recommended for all infants, not just those at high risk of RSV morbidity and mortality alone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Get the Vaccine Now!<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

RSV vaccines in the pipeline<\/h3>\n

RSV vaccine development has seen some notable progress.<\/strong> Various vaccine developers have enrolled volunteers for clinical trials of investigational RSV vaccines<\/strong> with significant success.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In one of the trials, a group of healthy volunteers had the vaccine<\/strong> administered in the form of nasal drips. The argument behind this approach is to get the immune system<\/strong> to recognize the virus in the nose since actual infections occur through the nose.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"RSV<\/p>\n

Getting the body to respond to the vaccine<\/strong> drip in the nose would be an excellent way to get a better protective response. These tests utilized a combination of the RSV protein<\/strong> and Sendai virus, a pathogen in mice that can replicate in humans without causing sickness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These specific trials exemplify safety studies carried out to test and demonstrate the vaccine’s safety profile. They also help to illustrate the ability of the recipient\u2019s immune system to develop a strong antibody response against the RSV F protein<\/strong> once it sees it.<\/span><\/p>\n

After successful safety tests on healthy adults previously exposed to the virus, the vaccine<\/strong> can then proceed to children trials. In this latter phase, the scientists study the behavior of the vaccine and its immune response in children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Who is the ideal candidate for the RSV vaccine?<\/h3>\n

Respiratory syncytial virus vaccination<\/strong> primarily targets children under 6 months of age due to their vulnerability to severe RSV<\/strong> disease. Administering the vaccine to infants at this age occurs through the mother.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This vaccination<\/strong> approach faces the challenge of maternal antibodies being present, which could potentially reduce the vaccine’s efficacy. The alternative would be to delay the vaccination age by some months; this is not the most recommended alternative since most primary RSV infections<\/strong> occur early in the infant\u2019s life.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Who<\/p>\n

Delaying immunization<\/strong> could mean allowing many preventable infections to take effect. As such, experts recommend establishing a vaccination window that provides for immunization before the majority of infections<\/strong> have occurred and there is minimal interference from maternal antibodies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As it is, vaccinating<\/strong> a mother to transfer protection to the newborn is still an area of ongoing research.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A better understanding of antibody dynamics is essential in deciding this appropriate vaccination age among preborn infants.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, it is worth noting that this dilemma only applies to one type of vaccine. Considering all the available types of candidate vaccines, all groups of people facing a higher risk of RSV infections<\/strong> are ideal candidates for vaccination.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Get the Vaccine Now!<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n

Who gets RSV infections and how?<\/h3>\n

\"Who<\/p>\n

People at a higher risk of severe RSV infections<\/strong> include children below the age of 5 and older adults, especially with existing medical conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Vaccine studies are ongoing for seniors, children, and adults with a specific focus on pregnant women.<\/strong> Pertussis and influenza vaccines are currently recommended for pregnant women in many cases partly to help transfer the protection to the unborn babies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, most people who get a respiratory syncytial infection typically experience a mild illness and may recover in a week or two.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, those considered high-risk individuals have a higher likelihood of developing severe RSV infection<\/strong> requiring hospitalization. The two primary infections<\/strong> typically resulting from the virus are bronchiolitis and pneumonia \u2013 both that can be life-threatening.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In some cases, an RSV infection<\/strong> will worsen existing chronic health problems. This explains why persons with such health conditions are considered high risk. In any case, the infections are typically more serious in older adults and children.<\/span><\/p>\n

Older adults with chronic health conditions\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

At least 177,000 older adults are hospitalized each year due to RSV-related<\/strong> morbidity in the United States alone. About 14,000 deaths out of these cases are reported each year, which could be avoided with proper immunization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Among the older adults at a higher risk of RSV infections<\/strong> are those aged 65 years and above, those with chronic lung or heart disease, and those with weakened immune systems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Infants and young children\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Approximately 58,000 children below five years old are hospitalized yearly in the United States due to RSV infection.<\/strong> The risk of RSV infection varies between different groups of children, with the following being at the greatest risk for severe morbidity from the virus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n