Do You Need to Get the RSV Vaccine?

What if you got the vaccine last year?

Unlike the COVID-19 and flu vaccines, which have updated formulations this fall, protection from the RSV vaccine is longer lasting. So if you got the shot last year, you can sit this year out, Britton says. According to the CDC, we know so far that the vaccine’s durability lasts for at least two winter seasons, but more data is needed to determine how long that protection will continue. 

Researchers and public health officials are monitoring for signs of waning immunity in clinical trial participants, who are a few years out from their vaccines. “There’s definitely a possibility that this may be a vaccine that we recommend you get more than once in your lifetime,” Britton says. “But not yet.”  

Which vaccine should you get?

Older adults have three options for the RSV vaccine — one from Moderna, mResvia (an mRNA vaccine), one from GSK, Arexvy, and another from Pfizer, Abrysvo. If you’re wondering which you should get, Britton’s advice is to get what’s available at your pharmacy or clinic. “We don’t have any preferential recommendation. Whatever is available is great, it will protect you from RSV,” she says. And in clinical trials, “all of them were shown to be safe and effective,” Britton adds.  

What are the side effects?

The RSV vaccine is “a pretty well tolerated vaccine, overall,” Linder says. Some people may experience temporary side effects, like injection site pain, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, joint stiffness/pain and nausea. These symptoms are generally a sign that the body is mounting an immune response, doctors say.

Serious side effects from the vaccine are uncommon, but federal researchers found that a small share of people who were vaccinated with Arexvy and Abrysvo went on to develop a rare neurological disorder known as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). GBS can cause numbness, weakness or even paralysis. Researchers, however, have noted that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risk.  

Can you get the RSV vaccine with your flu and COVID-19 shots?

If you’re planning on getting the RSV vaccine this year, and also the annual flu and updated COVID-19 vaccines, know that you don’t need to make separate trips to the clinic or pharmacy. It’s safe to get them all at once, the CDC says.

There is a possibility you could experience higher rates of common side effects if you get all three at once, Britton says. “But we’ve seen that a lot of people still prefer to do it, just for convenience.”

Want to get the vaccines at different visits? When it comes to scheduling those shots, you don’t need to wait a specific amount of time between the appointments, the CDC says.  

How much does it cost?  

The RSV vaccine is available to Medicare beneficiaries at no cost under Medicare’s prescription drug plan, known as Part D. And private health plans are required to cover vaccines recommended by the CDC in the year after they are approved, but some may cover them in the current plan year. It’s always a good idea to check with your insurance provider to make sure the vaccine is included in the current plan year and use an in-network provider to avoid out-of-network charges.

Out of pocket, the RSV vaccine can cost roughly $300.  

Are there other ways to protect yourself from RSV?

If you’re not eligible for the RSV vaccine but still want to avoid getting sick from the virus, there are some things you can do to lower the likelihood of catching it. Any kind of measures that you would take to protect yourself from flu and COVID-19 also work against RSV, Linder says. 

“So avoiding people who are sick, wearing a mask if you’re going to be in an area with a lot of people, washing your hands frequently — these are always a plus,” she says.

Taking steps to prevent an RSV infection can also lower the likelihood that you’ll experience other health issues too, Linder says.  “After an RSV infection, people are at significantly higher risk for heart disease, for example. So just having a respiratory viral infection doesn’t only mean things are going to be affecting your respiratory system,” she explains.