Three RSV vaccines are currently approved in the United States: Arexvy (made by GlaxoSmithKline), Abrysvo (made by Pfizer), and mResvia (made by Moderna). Each targets a slightly different population, and one of them, Abrysvo, can also be given during pregnancy to protect newborns. A separate product called Beyfortus is sometimes grouped with these, but it is a monoclonal antibody, not a vaccine.
Arexvy (GlaxoSmithKline)
Arexvy was the first RSV vaccine to reach the market. It is a protein-based vaccine approved for older adults. In clinical trials, it reduced serious RSV lung disease by about 73% in adults aged 60 to 74 who were at increased risk of severe illness, and by roughly 69% in adults 75 and older. It is given as a single dose.
Abrysvo (Pfizer)
Abrysvo is also a protein-based vaccine, but it has a dual role. It is approved for older adults and for pregnant people between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation. When given during pregnancy, the mother’s immune response passes protective antibodies to the baby before birth.
In trials, maternal vaccination with Abrysvo reduced medically attended RSV lung infections in infants during the first six months of life by about 51%, and cut RSV-related hospitalizations in that same window by roughly 57%. For older adults, its efficacy numbers are comparable to Arexvy’s, drawing from the same pooled trial data.
mResvia (Moderna)
mResvia is the first mRNA-based RSV vaccine approved in the U.S. It uses the same lipid nanoparticle technology Moderna developed for its COVID-19 vaccine, delivering genetic instructions that tell your cells to produce a piece of the RSV surface protein and trigger an immune response. It is approved for older adults only.
In the first year after vaccination, mResvia reduced serious RSV lung disease by about 56%. Protection did fade over time: by the second year, efficacy dropped to around 30%. That waning pattern is one reason the CDC’s recommendations focus on timing vaccination ahead of RSV season.
Beyfortus Is Not a Vaccine
Beyfortus (nirsevimab), made by Sanofi and AstraZeneca, is sometimes confused with the RSV vaccines, but it works differently. Instead of training the immune system to build its own defenses, Beyfortus delivers pre-made antibodies directly. It is a monoclonal antibody given to infants and young children to protect them through their first RSV season. The protection is immediate but temporary, lasting a single season rather than building lasting immunity.
Who Should Get an RSV Vaccine
The CDC recommends a single dose of RSV vaccine for all adults 75 and older and for adults aged 50 to 74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV illness. Conditions that qualify as increased risk include chronic lung disease (such as COPD or asthma), heart failure or coronary artery disease, diabetes with organ damage, severe obesity (BMI of 40 or higher), moderate or severe immune compromise, chronic liver or kidney disease, neuromuscular conditions that weaken airway clearance, and living in a nursing home.
You do not need medical records to prove you have a qualifying condition. Patient self-report is considered sufficient, and vaccinators are not supposed to deny the shot for lack of documentation. Healthcare providers in remote or rural areas also have the flexibility to recommend vaccination more broadly for the 50 to 74 age group based on local RSV patterns and limited access to emergency care.
Getting RSV Vaccine With Other Shots
You can receive an RSV vaccine at the same visit as your flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Clinical trials found that giving RSV and flu vaccines together was safe, with side effects similar to receiving each one separately. Injection-site reactions like soreness or redness may be slightly more common when the shots are combined, but no new safety concerns emerged. If you prefer spacing them out, there is no required waiting period between doses.
Side Effects
All three RSV vaccines share a similar side-effect profile. The most common reactions are pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site, along with fatigue, headache, muscle or joint pain, fever, nausea, and diarrhea. These are typically mild and resolve within a few days.
Cost and Insurance Coverage
For people on Medicare, RSV vaccines are covered under Part D drug plans with no copayment or deductible. Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage also cover the shot at no cost. Part D covers all vaccines recommended by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which now includes RSV. Most private insurers follow similar coverage rules for recommended adult vaccines, though specifics vary by plan.