At Higher Risk, Vaccine Efficacy, Uptake Are Crucial for Older Adult Populations | IDWeek 2024

Respiratory viruses don’t discriminate, but older adults are at an increased risk for respiratory tract infections. Per the CDC, most deaths due to respiratory viruses occur in individuals aged 65 years or older, with a sharp increase in risk as people age.¹

Vaccines for this population, therefore, are a crucial need. The first 2 RSV vaccines were approved in May 2023,^2,3 with an additional vaccine—Moderna’s mRESVIA—approved in May 2024.⁴ Now, researchers are beginning to evaluate the efficacy of these vaccines over time, what vaccine uptake is like by age, demographic, and socioeconomic factors, and whether combination RSV vaccines, targeting multiple lower respiratory tract threats, are worth pursuing in clinical development.

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References

1. Respiratory viruses and older adults. CDC. Accessed October 17, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/risk-factors/older-adults.html

2. Biscaldi L. Breaking: FDA approves first-ever RSV vaccine. Drug Topics. May 3, 2023. Accessed October 17, 2024. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/breaking-fda-approves-first-ever-rsv-vaccine

3. FDA: Pfizer RSV vaccine approved for use in older adults. Drug Topics. June 1, 2023. Accessed October 17, 2024. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/fda-pfizer-rsv-vaccine-approved-for-use-in-older-adults

4. Biscaldi L. Breaking: FDA approves Moderna’s mRNA RSV vaccine, mRESVIA. Drug Topics. May 31, 2024. Accessed October 17, 2024. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/breaking-fda-approves-moderna-s-mrna-rsv-vaccine-mresvia

5. La EM, McGuiness CB, Singer D, Yasuda M, et al. RSV vaccination uptake among US adults aged ≥60 years who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease (August 2023-February 2024). Presented at: IDWeek 2024; October 16-19, 2024; Los Angeles, CA. Poster P-36.

6. Walsh EE, Woodside J, Marc GP, et al. Efficacy of a bivalent RSVpreF vaccine in older adults across a second RSV season. Presented at: IDWeek 2024; October 16-19, 2024; Los Angeles, CA. Poster P-600.

7. Tartof SY, Ackerson B, Kapadia B, et al. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine uptake among adults ≥60 years old in a large integrated healthcare system in the US. Presented at: IDWeek 2024; October 16-19, 2024; Los Angeles, CA. Poster P-56.

8. Davis M, Shapiro C, Adams MD, et al. Safety and immunogenicity of a respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus-like particle protein subunit combination vaccine in 60-85 year-old adults: interim results from a phase 2a clinical trial. Presented at: IDWeek 2024; October 16-19, 2024; Los Angeles, CA. Poster P-601.