RSV immunization is recommended for babies, some toddlers, pregnant people, and many older adults.
With fall in full swing, winter respiratory virus season is also getting into gear and, like every year, it brings along infectious diseases like COVID, flu, and RSV.
A quick refresher – what is RSV?
RSV stands for Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV for short (it’s pronounced RES-pih-ruh-TOR-ee sin-SIH-shul VY-rus ). It’s a very common virus that affects the upper respiratory system and the lungs, and most people catch it as babies or toddlers. It’s the most common cause of bronchiolitis (an inflammation of the small airways in the lungs) and pneumonia in kids under 1 year, and the most common cause for hospitalization in that age group.
In healthy folks, it usually feels like a cold, but it can be serious in older adults and people who have a weakened immune system, are frail, and those with certain medical conditions that affect the heart and lungs.
RSV spreads through coughs and sneezes, through droplets, and also through contact with surfaces that are contaminated with RSV particles (we call this fomite transmission).
The main season for RSV tends to be from fall into winter and through to early spring, but does depend on geographical location.
Now to the good news!
Immunization is available for older adults and babies, and the evidence shows that these are great at preventing severe disease and hospitalizations.
So who can get an RSV vaccine?
There are several FDA-approved RSV vaccine products for adults 60 and older as well as adults ages 18 to 59 who have a higher risk of severe infection.
One RSV vaccine is also approved during pregnancy (32-36 weeks), which helps protect the baby during infancy.
And for infants born without this protection, there are monoclonal antibody shots that can prevent RSV. Some children under two need another shot during their second RSV season if they have risks for severe infection.
The American Medical Association (AMA), in collaboration with some other organizations, compiled a list of recommendations that are based on a recent independent review of the evidence of the available immunizations. Here are their recommendations:
🔶 Children 0-18 years:
Babies under 8 months old should get an RSV immunization before entering their first cold and flu season. This is unless their birth parent was vaccinated during pregnancy.
Children between 8 and 19 months old who are at high risk of severe RSV disease and are entering their second RSV season should also be immunized.
No RSV immunizations are currently approved for people 2 to 17 years of age. Parents and caregivers of immunocompromised children and teens in this age group can talk with their clinician about other ways to lower their RSV risk.
🔶 Pregnant folks:
If the pregnant person is between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy between Sept. 1st and March 1st, they should receive an RSV vaccine during that time period unless they have a planned delivery within the following two weeks, have already received the maternal RSV vaccine during a previous pregnancy, or are planning to have their baby receive a monoclonal antibody (nirsevimab or clesrovimab, which offer temporary protection from RSV) after birth.
🔶 Adults 19-64:
Healthy adults between the ages of 19 and 49 are not recommended to receive the RSV vaccine.
However, if you are 50 or older and at increased risk for severe RSV, you should receive a vaccine.
🔶 Older Adults aged 65+:
Adults between 65 and 74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV should be vaccinated.
All adults (regardless of risk) 75 and older should receive the vaccine.
🔶 Immunocompromised folks:
All people aged 18 or older who are immunocompromised should receive the RSV vaccine.
Healthcare workers: There is no special guidance for clinicians working in the healthcare field. These folks should follow the age- and risk-based recommendations for the vaccine.
Is it covered by insurance?
As is usually the case, it depends. If you purchased an insurance plan through your state’s health insurance marketplace and you meet the CDC clinical recommendations for immunization, then your RSV vaccine will be covered. Most private insurance plans, such as one you receive through your employer, will also cover RSV vaccination if it is clinically indicated.
If you are on Medicaid, your RSV vaccine will be covered as long as you are in a group recommended to receive it, along with any other vaccine that is recommended by ACIP (Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices). Although ACIP has not met since December 2025, health insurers who are part of the trade organization AHIP(America’s Health Insurance Plans), and both Medicaid and Medicare continue to cover the cost of most vaccinations for now, provided you are eligible.
Infants are eligible for the vaccine and monoclonal antibodies under CHIP and the Vaccines for Children program. Pregnant folks on Medicaid will have their maternal vaccine covered.
If you are on Medicare and you have Part D or a Medicare Advantage Plan, your vaccine will be covered. If not, you will have to pay out of pocket for the vaccine.
And remember, all the usual ways to protect yourself and those around you from catching any winter germs also help: these include staying home when sick, testing when unwell, strategic masking, and handwashing.
Stay well,
Love,
Those Nerdy Girls
Useful links:
healthychildren.org – RSV: When It’s More Than Just a Cold
CDC – RSV in Adults
JAMA Network – RSV Immunization Effectiveness and Safety for the 2026-2027 Respiratory Season
University of Minnesota Vaccine Integrity Project – The Evidence Base for 2026-27 Respiratory Season Immunizations
American Medical Association – Respiratory virus season immunization recommendations
