RSV Vaccination as a Public Health Priority: Protecting Communities Through Pharmacy Access

With the respiratory season upon us, most patients are preparing to receive their annual influenza vaccine. However, influenza is not the only common respiratory virus spreading during this time of the year. Through vaccination, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is now preventable. Expanding vaccination access through pharmacies, which remain one of the most accessible health care points, is essential for RSV prevention and public health.

Approximately 110,000 to 180,000 US adults aged 50 and older are hospitalized each year due to RSV.¹ The challenge of diagnosing RSV is that it often begins with mild, cold-like symptoms that resemble various upper respiratory infections. Healthy individuals are more likely to remain asymptomatic. Older patients—especially those who are immunocompromised or those with comorbidities—are at higher risk for severe disease, such as viral pneumonia. This risk is further amplified in individuals with comorbidities such as Down syndrome, chronic cardiopulmonary conditions, advanced age, or residence in long-term care facilities. It is exacerbated by environmental factors such as tobacco smoke exposure, air pollution, and indoor crowding.²

In symptomatic patients, the illness often begins with nasal congestion, cough, and low-grade fever, resembling an upper respiratory tract infection. However, the course of the disease process depends on age and immune status. Older adults, especially those with chronic conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or heart disease, are more likely to experience disease exacerbations, which frequently lead to increased hospitalizations.

The CDC recommends RSV vaccination for everyone aged 75 years or older and anyone 50 to 74 years old who has one or more risk factors.¹ At this time, it is a single-dose vaccine and not an annual vaccine; therefore, if a patient has already received it, they are fully immunized against RSV. There are several RSV vaccines, including Arexvy (GSK), mRESVIA (Moderna), and Abrysvo (Pfizer), all of which are approved for adults.¹

Evidence from the 2023-2024 season demonstrates that RSV vaccination offers meaningful protection throughout various stages of life. In older adults, vaccination with Arexvy reduced RSV-related emergency department visits by approximately 77% and hospitalizations by 83%, whereas Abrysvo demonstrated 79% and 73% efficacy, respectively, against the same outcomes.³

Protecting the community through RSV vaccinations can ease the strain on hospitals and decrease outbreaks in long-term care facilities. Due to the prevalence of influenza and COVID-19, RSV may often be forgotten, but it is crucial to remind patients that it is a preventable infection. Shifting health care from primarily treating illness to focusing more on its prevention can strengthen our communities and better protect those who are most vulnerable.

As with any vaccine, pharmacists must be prepared to discuss safety considerations. In January 2025, the FDA added a warning label noting an increased risk of developing Guillain-Barré syndrome within 42 days following the vaccination with Arexvy or Abrysvo.⁴ Although the risk remains rare, patients should be counseled to seek further care if they experience neurologic symptoms such as weakness or tingling in the days following vaccination.⁴

Typically, RSV vaccines can be administered with others such as influenza and COVID-19. Patients may experience increased local or systemic adverse reactions. Pharmacists should provide clear guidance about potential adverse effects and the importance of reporting adverse events through the appropriate channels.

Pharmacies have been the hub for vaccinations for several decades, starting with influenza vaccines and expanding to others, including RSV. Pharmacies are the most accessible health care point, making it easier for geriatric patients and those with transportation issues to obtain vaccines.⁵ Independent pharmacies often set up vaccine clinics at group homes, facilities, or even local businesses to ensure their communities are fully vaccinated. Pharmacists play a key role in public health, and they aim to protect the communities they serve.

Although the RSV vaccine is an expensive vaccine, most insurances cover the vaccine with a small administration fee. Additionally, due to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2023, Medicare Part D has eliminated cost-sharing for all vaccines that are recommended by the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).⁶ As a result, Medicaid and most private insurances also started covering the ACIP-recommended vaccines, including the RSV vaccine.

As RSV vaccination becomes more prevalent, pharmacists are perfectly positioned to bridge that gap for immunization rates in our communities. Increasing patient education for patients about RSV and its prevention is key. From a community pharmacy standpoint, integrating RSV vaccine eligibility screening into their workflows will help increase vaccine administration while reducing the RSV burden on vulnerable populations and help protect communities.

Disclaimer: This research was supported (in whole or in part) by HCA Healthcare and/or an HCA Healthcare-affiliated entity. The views expressed in this publication represent those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of HCA Healthcare or any of its affiliated entities.

About the Authors

Shivani Mehta, PharmD, is director of clinical services at Baya Pharmacy in Lake City, Florida.

Jyoti Moorjani, DO, is a doctor of osteopathic medicine specializing in general and osteopathic medicine at HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital in Florida.

REFERENCES

1. RSV in adults. CDC. Updated July 18, 2025. Accessed September 8, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/adults/index.html

2. Kaler J, Hussain A, Patel K, Hernandez T, Ray S. Respiratory syncytial virus: a comprehensive review of transmission, pathophysiology, and manifestation. Cureus. 2023;15(3):e36342. doi:10.7759/cureus.36342

3. RSV Vaccine Guidance for Adults. CDC. Updated July 8, 2025. Accessed September 8, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/hcp/vaccine-clinical-guidance/adults.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

4. FDA requires Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) warning in the prescribing information for RSV vaccines Abrysvo and Arexy: FDA safety communication. News release. FDA. January 7, 2025. Accessed September 8, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/safety/medical-product-safety-information/fda-requires-guillain-barre-syndrome-gbs-warning-prescribing-information-rsv-vaccines-abrysvo-and?utm_source=chatgpt.com

5. NACDS to US Senate: pharmacies have a vital role to play in delivering total health and wellness solutions, including food is medicine access. News release. National Association of Chain Drug Stores. May 20, 2024. Accessed September 8, 2025. https://www.nacds.org/news/nacds-to-u-s-senate-pharmacies-have-a-vital-role-to-play-in-delivering-total-health-and-wellness-solutions-including-food-is-medicine-access/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

6. HHS releases new data showing over 10 million people with Medicare received a free vaccine because of the president’s Inflation Reduction Act; releases draft guidance for the second cycle of Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. News release. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. May 3, 2024. Accessed September 8, 2025. https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/hhs-releases-new-data-showing-over-10-million-people-medicare-received-free-vaccine-because?utm_source=chatgpt.com