RSV Vaccine

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most important cause of viral lower respiratory tract illness (LRI) in infants and children worldwide and causes significant LRI in the elderly and in immunocompromised patients. The goal of RSV vaccination is to prevent serious RSV-associated LRI.

What is in the News?

• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first-ever respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, developed by UK-based pharmaceutical company GSK, for use in people aged 60 years and older.
• A committee of experts voted in favor of a new shot administered to pregnant women, one in a series of new ways to arm the very young against a life-threatening virus.

What is RSV?

• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus that can cause mild to severe respiratory illness, especially in young children and older adults.
• Also, it spreads through respiratory secretions, such as from coughing or sneezing, or by touching contaminated surfaces or objects.
• Moreover, RSV can cause symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, fever, runny nose, and difficulty breathing.
• People at Risk: Infants, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk for severe RSV infection.
• Talking about diagnosis, RSV can be diagnosed through a respiratory sample, such as from a nasal or throat swab, that is tested in a laboratory.
• Treatment: Treatment for RSV is mainly supportive, such as with fluids, oxygen therapy, and fever reducers. Severe cases may require hospitalization.

Practice Questions for Prelims

Consider the following statements:
1. RSV spreads easily through the air on infected respiratory droplets
2. The virus is short lived.

Which of the above given statements is/are incorrect?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans. b)

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