The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has licensed mRNA respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine (brand name mRESVIA) to prevent individuals over the age of 60 from RSV-caused lower respiratory tract disease.
RSV is a common virus that spreads rapidly and causes respiratory tract disease in people of all ages. RSV infection can be mild, causing cold-like symptoms such as a blocked nose, cough, and/or a sore throat. However, the virus can cause more serious complications, such as lung infections and pneumonia. Older persons are more likely to develop major consequences that need hospitalization or even death.
A doctor, pharmacist, or nurse will provide this vaccine via intramuscular injection in the upper arm. The recommended dose is 0.5 milliliter. The vaccine works by getting the body ready to protect itself against RSV. It contains an active material called messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA), which carries instructions that cells in the body can employ to produce the same protein found on the virus. This protein activates the immune system to create antibodies that defend against RSV-caused lung illnesses.
This countrywide approval is based on data from a study of over 35,000 persons aged 60 and over. Participants in this trial received either a single dose of the RSV vaccination or a placebo injection. The study discovered that persons who received the RSV vaccine had a 79% decreased risk of developing RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease compared to those who received a placebo about 4 months following vaccination.
The most common side effects of the vaccine, which may affect more than 1 in 10 people, include swelling/tenderness in the underarm, headache, muscle ache, joint aches, pain at the injection site, tiredness, and chills.
As with any medicinal product, the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of this RSV vaccine under close review. Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this vaccine are encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist, or nurse and report it directly to the Yellow Card scheme, either through the website (https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/) or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.
Learn more: mRESVIA RSV vaccine approved to protect patients aged 60 and over - GOV.UK
