Opinion
Video
Ideal Patient Populations for RSV Vaccination
Panelists discuss that pharmacies should prioritize practical workflow and patient management over clinical preference when administering RSV vaccines, since all FDA-approved vaccines are equally recommended; focusing on factors like preparation ease, storage, patient eligibility, and insurance helps streamline operations and promote timely vaccination without delays due to product choice or patient preference.
When considering the differences among the available RSV vaccines, pharmacies must focus on practical patient management rather than clinical preference, as current guidelines recommend all approved vaccines equally. This simplifies the pharmacist’s decision-making, allowing them to base their choice on the patient population they serve and workflow efficiency rather than vaccine superiority. For instance, some vaccines require reconstitution while others, like the mRNA option, come in a prefilled syringe, which can affect preparation time and storage needs. Keeping one vaccine type on hand helps reduce confusion and streamlines the vaccination process, while specific patient needs or insurance requirements can be managed through special orders.
Patient eligibility and vaccine indications also influence pharmacy management strategies. All 3 RSV vaccines are approved for adults aged 60 and older, with expanded indications for adults 50 to 59 at increased risk, and for certain patients aged 18 to 59 with risk factors. Notably, 1 vaccine is approved for pregnant individuals between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation, providing protection to newborns during their first 6 months. Because these recommendations overlap significantly, pharmacies can efficiently target eligible patients without needing to differentiate heavily between vaccine types. Patient preference for one vaccine over another is currently minimal, and most patients defer to the vaccine that is available.
In practice, pharmacies emphasize workflow implementation over vaccine selection, aligning with CDC recommendations that encourage patients to receive whichever vaccine is accessible rather than delay for a preferred product. This approach supports timely immunization and avoids barriers caused by limited supply or patient hesitancy. While patient requests based on vaccine technology, such as mRNA, have been common with COVID-19 vaccines, RSV vaccine preference has not yet emerged as a significant factor in patient decisions. Ultimately, pharmacy management prioritizes simplicity, accessibility, and efficient patient care when handling RSV vaccination options.
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