The United States has authorized for the first time the use of a vaccine against the respiratory syncytial virus responsible for bronchiolitis, for those over the age of 60, according to the health authorities, Wednesday.

EDITED BY |CHRISTIAN MEGAN

HEALTH SECTION

5 MAY 2023

     FDA official Peter Marks confirmed, in a statement, that the authorities' approval of the use of the “Arksvi” vaccine, which was developed by the British pharmaceutical company “Glaxo-SmithKline” (GSK), represents “an important public health achievement for the prevention of COVID-19.” It may result in the death of the victim.”

The respiratory syncytial virus is very common and highly contagious, causing bronchiolitis in children during the winter. The virus also affects adults and may be dangerous for the elderly when it turns into a respiratory infection (bronchiolitis or pneumonia).

And the US health authorities indicate that the virus causes the death of between 6 and 10 thousand people over the age of 65 in the United States annually.

The approval granted by the Food and Drug Administration for the vaccine is based on a clinical trial involving about 25,000 people, half of whom received this vaccine while the other half took a placebo. The vaccine was shown to be 83% effective in preventing patients from developing infections in the lower respiratory tract.

The European Medicines Agency approved the use of the "Arxvi" vaccine last week.

Pfizer and Moderna are developing two RSV vaccines for the elderly.

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