U.S. regulator gives green light to Pfizer’s RSV respiratory virus vaccine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved this Wednesday the use of the Pfizer vaccine to treat respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for older adults.
It is the second RSV vaccine to be approved by the FDA this month. GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals also got the green light. from the regulator to market its own serum to treat the disease in older adults, The Hill reports.
RSV usually causes mild symptoms in healthy children and adults, but for the elderly it can lead to complications.
Between 60,000 and 160,000 people over the age of 65 are hospitalized each year for the disease in the United States. Between 6,000 and 13,000 end up dying, according to The Hill.
In August, Pfizer announced that its vaccine had. 85% effective in preventing severe cases of RSV in older adults.
In addition to the vaccine for older adults, called Abrysvo, the FDA is also considering approving Pfizer’s serum for pregnant women.which aims to prevent cases of RSV in infants.
