RSV Vaccine Resources

Last Updated: November 7, 2025

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious. Infants and older adults are more likely to develop severe RSV and need hospitalization. Vaccines are available to protect older adults from severe RSV. Vaccines for pregnant people or monoclonal antibody products are available to protect infants and young children from severe RSV.

RSV is recognized as one of the most common causes of childhood illness and the most common cause of infant hospitalization. It causes annual outbreaks of respiratory illnesses in all age groups. In most regions of the United States, RSV season starts in the fall and peaks in the winter, but the timing and severity of RSV season in a given community can vary from year to year.

On this page, you will find:

RSV immunization recommendations to protect infants
RSV immunization recommendations to protect older adults
Downloads, links, and handouts for RSV immunizations

RSV Immunizations to Protect Infants

There are two safe and effective immunization strategies to prevent severe lower respiratory tract infection caused by RSV in infants. Either a maternal vaccination or a monoclonal antibody is recommended, but administration of both is not needed for most infants.

Healthcare providers of pregnant people should provide information on both maternal vaccines and infant monoclonal antibody products. Patient preferences should be considered when determining whether to vaccinate the pregnant patient or to rely on administration of a monoclonal antibody product to the infant after birth.

Maternal Vaccines for Pregnant People

Only one RSV vaccine (Abrysvo) is recommended for pregnant people who are 32 to 36 weeks pregnant. In most of the continental United States, this vaccine should only be administered to eligible pregnant patients during the months of September through January. This vaccine provides protection against severe RSV illness to the recipient’s baby for up to 6 months after birth.

For more information, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/hcp/pregnant-people.html

Monoclonal Antibodies for Infants and Young Children

There are currently two long-lasting monoclonal antibody products that protect infants and young children from severe RSV disease:

- Beyfortus (nirsevimab)

- Enflonsia (clesrovimab)

There is no official preference between products. See below for indications.

Beyfortus (nirsevimab) and Enflonsia (clesrovimab) are long-lasting monoclonal antibody products that can protect infants and some young children from severe RSV disease.

These immunizations are recommended for:

Infants under eight months old born during, or entering, their first RSV season (typically October through March) if:
- Their mother did not receive an RSV vaccine during pregnancy
- It is unknown if their mother received an RSV vaccine during pregnancy
- The mother received an RSV vaccine during pregnancy, but the infant was born <14 days after vaccination

Beyfortus (nirsevimab) may be considered for some children between the ages of 8 and 19 months are at increased risk of severe RSV disease before their second RSV season.

These include:

Children who have chronic lung disease of prematurity who require medical support (chronic corticosteroid therapy, diuretic therapy, or supplemental oxygen) any time during the 6-month period before the start of the second RSV season
Children with severe immunocompromise
Children with cystic fibrosis who have severe disease
American Indian and Alaska Native children

(Note: Enflonsia (clesrovimab) is not indicated for this population over 8 months of age.)

For more information, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/hcp/child.html

RSV Immunizations to Protect Older Adults

There are three RSV vaccines licensed for adults aged 50 years and older in the United States:

Arexvy
Abrysvo
mRESVIA

For more complete details on the adult vaccination recommendations for RSV vaccination, see Adults 19 and Older Immunization Schedule.

Adults ages 50 years and older

CDC recommends a single dose of RSV vaccines for:

All adults ages 75 and older
Adults ages 50-74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease (with risk factors, see below)

Risk factors for severe RSV disease

Epidemiologic evidence indicates that all adults ages 75 or older and adults ages 50-74 with certain risk factors are at increased risk of severe RSV.

The following conditions increase the risk of severe RSV disease:

Chronic cardiovascular disease e.g., heart failure, coronary artery disease, congenital heart disease.
- Excludes isolated hypertension
Chronic lung or respiratory disease e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, asthma, interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis
End stage renal disease or dependence on hemodialysis or other renal replacement therapy
Diabetes mellitus complicated by chronic kidney disease, neuropathy, retinopathy, or other end–organ damage
Diabetes mellitus requiring treatment with insulin or sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor
Neurologic or neuromuscular conditions causing impaired airway clearance or respiratory muscle weakness e.g., post–stroke dysphagia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophy.
- Excludes history of stroke without impaired airway clearance
Chronic liver disease e.g., cirrhosis
Chronic hematologic conditions e.g., sickle cell disease, thalassemia
Severe obesity (body mass index ≥ 40 kg/m2)
Moderate or severe immune compromise
Residence in a nursing home
Other chronic medical conditions or risk factors that a health care provider determines would increase the risk of severe disease due to viral respiratory infection e.g., frailty, concern for presence of undiagnosed chronic medical conditions, residence in a remote or rural community where escalation of medical care is challenging.

Timing of RSV vaccination and number of doses

For patients who have not yet received an RSV vaccine and choose to get one, healthcare providers are encouraged to maximize its benefit by administering it in late summer or early fall.

The RSV vaccine is not currently an annual vaccine, meaning eligible adults do not need to get a dose every RSV season. Currently, the recommendation is a single dose of the RSV vaccine for all adults aged 75 and older and adults aged 50-74 with an increased risk of severe RSV disease. Additional surveillance and evaluation activities are ongoing to determine whether adults might benefit from receiving additional RSV vaccine doses in the future. So far, RSV vaccines appear to provide some protection for at least two RSV seasons.

For more information, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/hcp/older-adults.html