Older adults may have a reduced ability to mount an effective immune response1,2
THIS LEAVES THEM MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ACUTE VIRAL INFECTIONS.2
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults at highest risk for severe RSV infection include older adults.1
Each year in the United States, approximately 177,000 adults 65 years and older are hospitalized due to RSV infection.3
RSV vs Influenza: Annual impact on adults aged 65 years and older1,4
Symptomatic illnesses
Hospitalizations
Deaths
RSV3,4
Approximately
2.2 million
Approximately
177K
An estimated
14K
Influenza5
Approximately
1.4 million-5.1 million
Approximately
128K-467K
An estimated
12K-43K
*Estimated Influenza Disease Burden 2015-2016 through 2019-2020
RSV infection in adults usually presents as mild disease with cold-like symptoms, but it can progress to more severe disease involving the lower respiratory tract, such as pneumonia.1 RSV and influenza have overlapping seasonality and similar presenting symptoms and may be difficult to distinguish based on clinical presentation alone.6
RSV=respiratory syncytial virus.
References:
1. Respiratory syncytial virus infection (RSV). RSV in adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed July 9, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/adults/index.html 2. Del Giudice G, Goronzy JJ, Grubeck-Loebenstein B, et al. Fighting against a protean enemy: immunosenescence, vaccines, and healthy aging. NPJ Aging Mech Dis. 2018;4(1):1-8. doi:10.1038/s41514-017-0020-0 3. Falsey AR, Hennessey PA, Formica MA, Cox C, Walsh EE. Respiratory syncytial virus infection in elderly and high-risk adults. N Engl J Med. 2005;352(17):1749-1759. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa043951 4. Havers F. Epidemiology and burden of respiratory syncytial virus in older adults in the U.S. Presented at: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; June 23, 2022; Atlanta, GA. 5. Flu disease burden: Past seasons. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed April 23, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/flu-burden/php/data-vis/past-seasons.html 6. Respiratory syncytial virus in older adults: a hidden annual epidemic. A report by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Accessed September 22, 2022. https://www.nfid.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/rsv-report.pdf
