The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to expand RSV vaccinations for adults starting at the age of 50, lowering the previous threshold of 60. This decision follows the recommendations from a recently dismissed panel of government vaccine advisers.
Currently, this information appears on a page of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, but as of Wednesday, it hadn’t yet made it to the agency’s official adult immunization schedule.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is typically seen as a mild illness similar to a cold. However, it can pose serious risks, particularly for infants and older adults. The CDC recommends vaccinations for certain pregnant women and a one-time shot for individuals aged 75 and older. Those as young as 60 with certain health conditions that heighten their risk may also be eligible for the vaccine.
In April, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that RSV vaccinations be extended to high-risk adults beginning at age 50. Yet, the CDC currently lacks a permanent director to make this recommendation official, and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has not taken immediate action.
Recently, Kennedy dismissed all 17 members of the advisory panel and replaced them with a new group that includes several individuals who are known to question vaccine effectiveness. This change has raised concerns among medical professionals, particularly after the new panel chose to overlook established research regarding a rarely used flu vaccine preservative and decided to investigate the children’s vaccination schedule without addressing the RSV vaccine issue for older adults.
Kennedy had previously altered COVID-19 vaccine guidance without consulting the committee, which has drawn scrutiny.
As of Wednesday, a CDC webpage indicated that Kennedy would be adopting the earlier recommendation to include high-risk individuals in their 50s for RSV vaccination. This decision has now been made an official recommendation by the CDC.
