AREXVY® Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine [DIN: 2540207]

Health Canada has approved Arexvy, the first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine approved for use in Canada. Arexvy is approved for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in individuals 60 years of age and older.
 
RSV is a highly contagious virus that causes infections of the lungs and breathing passages in individuals of all age groups. RSV circulation is seasonal, typically starting during the fall and peaking in the winter. In older adults, RSV is a common cause of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD), which affects the lungs and can cause life-threatening pneumonia and bronchiolitis (swelling of the small airway passages in the lungs).
 
The virus can affect all ages, but the impact of RSV in older adults is significant. RSV caused an estimated 470,000 hospitalizations and 33,000 deaths in those aged 60 years and above in high-income countries in 2019.
 
RSV season in Canada is typically from October until May, with most cases occurring in the winter months. For most people, the virus causes cold-like symptoms, but for older adults and adults with certain health conditions it can lead to more serious infection and complications such as pneumonia, hospitalization and even death. Older adults are at greater risk due in-part to the natural decline in immune function with age. Underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, chronic heart and lung disease6 can be exacerbated by RSV, leading to severe outcomes.