• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Wyoming officials say Meta’s 715,000-square-foot data center is responsible for contaminating its water system with a rare bacterium

2

Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts

3

'The first time ever in my career': Senior Citi executive on why the ultrawealthy want to diversify away from America

1

Wyoming officials say Meta’s 715,000-square-foot data center is responsible for contaminating its water system with a rare bacterium

2

Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts

3

'The first time ever in my career': Senior Citi executive on why the ultrawealthy want to diversify away from America
Vaccines

An FDA panel has endorsed 2 RSV vaccines for older Americans. Here’s when they might be available

By
Erin Prater
Erin Prater
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Erin Prater
Erin Prater
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 2, 2023, 3:43 PM ET
Updated March 3, 2023, 11:54 AM ET
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel Wednesday voted to endorse GlaxoSmithKline's RSV vaccine for older adults, after voting to endorse one from Pfizer earlier in the week.
A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel Wednesday voted to endorse GlaxoSmithKline's RSV vaccine for older adults, after voting to endorse one from Pfizer earlier in the week.Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Key takeaways

  • A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel endorsed 2 RSV vaccines for older adults this week.
  • RSV kills between 6,000 and 10,000 elderly adults in the U.S. each year.
  • Shots are for adults 60 and older and could be available as soon as this summer.

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel Wednesday voted to endorse GlaxoSmithKline’s RSV vaccine for older adults, after voting to endorse one from Pfizer earlier in the week.

The panel voted unanimously to recommend GSK’s vaccine against the common winter respiratory virus, sometimes severe in the elderly and the young. It voted 7-4 Tuesday to recommend one from Pfizer. 

Both jabs would be available for adults 60 and older—and they could be ready as soon as this summer, Dr. Ali Alhassani, head of clinical at Summer Health, tells Fortune.

The panel’s recommendations are usually adopted by the FDA. If approved by the FDA, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will issue an immunization schedule.

Pfizer is also seeking approval for an RSV vaccine for pregnant individuals, to provide protection for infants from birth through the first six months of life. It showed 82% effectiveness through 90 days of life, and 69% effectiveness through six months, Pfizer announced in November, citing Phase III clinical trial data. The FDA is set to review the vaccine by August, according to the company.

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus infection, is a common illness that usually presents as a mild cold. Almost everyone has been infected with it by age 2, according to the CDC. 

But RSV isn’t mild for everyone. The virus hospitalizes tens of thousands of infants, young children, and elderly adults each year in the U.S. And it kills between 6,000 and 10,000 elderly adults in the U.S. each year, according to the national public health agency.

Symptoms can range from cold-like ailments such as sneezing, sore throat, fever, and stuffy nose, to bronchiolitis and pneumonia, the latter of which can prove fatal. What’s more, patients can quickly take a turn for the worse. 

RSV can also exacerbate the symptoms of people with chronic health problems like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or congestive heart failure, according to the CDC.

Those at highest risk of a severe outcome from RSV, according to the CDC, include:

  • Older adults 65+
  • Infants 6 months and younger
  • Prematurely born infants
  • Older adults and children younger than 2 with chronic heart or lung disease
  • Older adults and children with weakened immune systems
  • Children with neuromuscular disorders, such as those who have difficulty swallowing or clearing mucus

Cases of RSV are leveling out after a spike in November. The virus, along with COVID and flu, was part of what some public health officials called a “tripledemic” late last year that put hospital capacity in jeopardy as viral circulation spiked, likely as a result of the lifting of pandemic restrictions. While the impact on the U.S. health system was significant, other factors like general hospital bed availability and a shortage of health care workers contributed, and levels of RSV were not unusually high, experts say.

While RSV is a common winter virus, it can occur at any time of year. COVID disrupted the seasonal patterns of many viruses, resulting in oddly elevated RSV levels spring through fall of 2021.

Editor’s note: This article was updated at 10:24 a.m. ET March 3, 2023, to reflect that the FDA committee recommended one dose of each company’s vaccine.

About the Author
By Erin Prater
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in

The U.S. and Iran can’t agree on fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The solution could be straight out of the Old Testament
Middle EastIran
The U.S. and Iran can’t agree on fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The solution could be straight out of the Old Testament
By Jason MaJuly 11, 2026
7 hours ago
U.S. military strikes Iran in response to attack on civilian vessel in Strait of Hormuz that Tehran said was using an ‘unauthorized route’
EnergyIran
U.S. military strikes Iran in response to attack on civilian vessel in Strait of Hormuz that Tehran said was using an ‘unauthorized route’
By Jon Gambrell, Michelle L. Price, Will Weissert and The Associated PressJuly 11, 2026
7 hours ago
Ukraine building Patriots is in Lockheed’s interest, McCaul says
PoliticsUkraine invasion
Ukraine building Patriots is in Lockheed’s interest, McCaul says
By Christina Ruffini, David Gura and BloombergJuly 11, 2026
7 hours ago
Le Pen extends lead in French election poll after court ruling
PoliticsFrance
Le Pen extends lead in French election poll after court ruling
By James Regan and BloombergJuly 11, 2026
7 hours ago
Homes are in short supply in the U.S. How a new law could change the market
Real EstateHousing
Homes are in short supply in the U.S. How a new law could change the market
By Katy O'Donnell and BloombergJuly 11, 2026
8 hours ago
Trump hints at a ‘dead man’s switch’ if Iran assassinates him. But Vice President JD Vance would make the call
PoliticsJD Vance
Trump hints at a ‘dead man’s switch’ if Iran assassinates him. But Vice President JD Vance would make the call
By Will Weissert and The Associated PressJuly 11, 2026
8 hours ago

Most Popular

Wyoming officials say Meta’s 715,000-square-foot data center is responsible for contaminating its water system with a rare bacterium
Environment
Wyoming officials say Meta’s 715,000-square-foot data center is responsible for contaminating its water system with a rare bacterium
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 10, 2026
2 days ago
Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts
Success
Billionaire MacKenzie Scott just donated $20 million to support America’s youth mental health, as a fifth of teens struggle with suicidal thoughts
By Emma BurleighJuly 9, 2026
3 days ago
'The first time ever in my career': Senior Citi executive on why the ultrawealthy want to diversify away from America
Banking
'The first time ever in my career': Senior Citi executive on why the ultrawealthy want to diversify away from America
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 11, 2026
19 hours ago
U.S. Treasury has borrowed $155 billion every month of this fiscal year—and is now paying $24 billion a week in interest on its debts
Economy
U.S. Treasury has borrowed $155 billion every month of this fiscal year—and is now paying $24 billion a week in interest on its debts
By Eleanor PringleJuly 10, 2026
2 days ago
Americans are quietly abandoning the daily habit that billionaires say set them up for success—and it could have lasting consequences
Success
Americans are quietly abandoning the daily habit that billionaires say set them up for success—and it could have lasting consequences
By Preston ForeJuly 11, 2026
19 hours ago
Top Iranian officials admitted to the supreme leader that the U.S. naval blockade was crushing the economy, report says, as Trump eyes reimposing it
Middle East
Top Iranian officials admitted to the supreme leader that the U.S. naval blockade was crushing the economy, report says, as Trump eyes reimposing it
By Jason MaJuly 10, 2026
2 days ago