The United States on Wednesday approved the first vaccine against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes bronchiolitis, for adults 60 and older, health officials said.

This authorization of the Arexvy vaccine, from the British pharmaceutical giant GSK, "is an important achievement in terms of public health in the prevention of a disease that can be fatal," Peter Marks, head of the FDA, the US regulatory agency for medicines, said in a statement.

RSV is a widespread and highly contagious virus, known primarily for causing bronchiolitis (infection of the small bronchi) in young children during the winter.

However, it also affects adults and can be dangerous for the elderly when it degenerates into a respiratory infection (bronchiolitis or pneumonia).

According to US health authorities, this virus causes the death of between 6,000 and 10,000 people over the age of 65 in the United States.

The FDA authorization is based on a clinical trial with approximately 25,000 participants, half of whom received the vaccine and half a placebo.

The vaccine was found to be 83% effective in preventing lower respiratory tract infections.

Last week, this same vaccine received a favorable opinion from the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Pfizer and Moderna are also developing RSV vaccines for the elderly.

  • United States
  • Vaccines

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