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Podcast Recap | AMA Update: New ACIP recommendations - COVID vaccine frequency for seniors and RSV vaccine safety concerns

November 7, 2024

In the episode, Sandra Fryhofer, MD, AMA’s liaison to ACIP and a member of ACIP’s COVID-19 Vaccine Workgroup, offers updates regarding universal COVID-19 vaccination, the introduction of new RSV vaccines for high-risk populations, and the importance of timing to improve public health outcomes.

Podcast length: 17 minutes

Key takeaways

1. ACIP lowered the recommended age for routine pneumococcal vaccination from 65 to 50.

This change only applies to pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). It's important to note that there's still a risk-based recommendation for younger adults ages 19-49 with certain medical conditions like diabetes, as well as chronic heart, liver, lung, kidney disease, and also for those with immunocompromising conditions.

2. An additional COVID-19 vaccine dose is now recommended for older adults.

The recommendation stands that everyone 6 months and older should receive a dose of the updated COVID vaccine, but experts now recommend an additional COVID vaccine dose for those 65 and older and for those age 6 months and older with immunocompromising conditions. This second dose is recommended at 6 months but can be given as early as 2 months after the last dose. If a patient has recently had COVID, they can wait 3 months before getting an additional dose.

3. New RSV vaccines are now available for older adults.

Three RSV vaccines have been introduced for adults aged 60 and older, with a specific recommendation for those 75 and older to receive a single dose. This change marks a significant advancement in preventive measures against RSV, particularly for this population.

FDA-approved RSV vaccines for adults include: Pfizer’s Abrysvo, a protein subunit vaccine without an adjuvant; GSK’s Arexvy, a protein subunit vaccine that contains an adjuvant; and Moderna’s Mresvia, which utilizes an mRNA vaccine platform.

4. Key preventive measures for infants during RSV season include the maternal vaccine Abrysvo and the monoclonal antibody nirsevimab.

As we enter RSV season, which runs from October to March, there are two key preventive measures available for infants. The maternal RSV vaccine, Abrysvo, is recommended for pregnant individuals at 32 to 36 weeks of gestation and has been shown to be safe, with no increased risk of preterm birth or small gestational age. Additionally, nirsevimab (Beyfortus), a long-acting monoclonal antibody, is indicated for all infants under 8 months entering their first RSV season and for at-risk children aged 8 to 19 months during their second season. Nirsevimab can be administered from October through March, providing crucial protection during this high-risk period.

5. The optimal timing for RSV vaccination is late summer to early fall.

According to ACIP, the best time to receive the RSV vaccine is August to October to ensure maximum effectiveness during the RSV season. This timing is crucial for enhancing population immunity and reducing the burden of respiratory illnesses.

Any views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast recap are solely that of the host and guests and do not reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of epocrates and athenahealth.

Source:

American Medical Association. AMA Update [audio podcast]. (2024, November 6). New ACIP recommendations: COVID vaccine frequency for seniors and RSV vaccine safety concerns [Podcast]. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/new-acip-recommendations-covid-vaccine-frequency-seniors-and-rsv-0