Overview
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that circulates in the fall and winter months (peaking in December and January) and cold-like symptoms. RSV can be severe in infants and older adults, especially those with weakened immune systems, chronic health conditions, or who live in nursing homes.
Childhood Recommendations
There is no RSV vaccine for babies. A vaccine can be given to pregnant women to offer the baby antibodies to RSV that last for at least the entire respiratory season.
Babies can be given a monoclonal antibody if the mother did not receive the vaccine during pregnancy or in time for the baby to be protected at birth.
Monoclonal antibodies (mAb) are not vaccines; they are given to offer protection that will eventually fade away, as the body did not make its antibodies as it does with a vaccine.
RSV mAbs (nirsevimab) are given to infants from October to January (respiratory virus season) in most places in the U.S.
Infants without RSV protection from the mother should receive one dose of nirsevimab within one week after birth. It is also recommended that a small group of young children aged 8 months–19 months at increased risk of RSV should get a dose of nirsevimab.
Adult recommendations
All adults 75 years and older should get an RSV vaccine.
Adults 60–74 years who are at increased risk of severe RSV disease should get vaccinated against RSV.
All pregnant women should be given the RSV vaccine from weeks 32–36 of pregnancy to prevent their baby from getting RSV after birth for the first six months of life. The vaccine is given from September to January in most of the United States, but timing may vary depending on location and the time of year when RSV is circulating in the area.
Immunization schedules
Childhood schedules:
Adult schedule:
Additional information about the RSV vaccine
RSV Vaccine Information Statement
CDC’s Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) main page