Health Canada just approved the first RSV vaccine for seniors. Here's what to know

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Health Canada has approved an RSV vaccine for adults over the age of 60 — something many doctors were "happy" to learn.

The agency approved GSK’s Arexvy vaccine for the prevention of RSV-caused lower respiratory tract disease. Clinical trials have showed 82.6 per cent efficacy in older subjects and 94.6 per cent in individuals with underlying medical issues.

It's the first vaccine of its kind — and has been approved in the U.S. since May and in the European Union since June.

Here's everything you need to know about RSV and the newly approved immunization tool.

What is RSV?

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a common respiratory virus that usually causes a mild illness with cold-like symptoms.

According to the federal health agency, RSV "follows an annual seasonal pattern" and increases in activity in Canada between fall and early spring.

While it commonly causes mild illness, RSV can lead to serious infection including bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

Infants and elderly Canadians are most at-risk from lower respiratory illness from RSV infection.

Symptoms

The symptoms of RSV infection often begin two to eight days after exposure, and include:

• coughing

• runny nose

• sneezing

• wheezing

• fever

• decrease in appetite and energy

The disease is commonly diagnosed with a simple nose swab.

Director of geriatrics at Sinai Health and the University Health Network in Toronto, Dr. Samir Sinha, tells Yahoo Canada RSV is "very similar to infections like influenza and other colds."

Sinha said the impact on older adults can be serious.

"It can actually sicken them enough to end up in a hospital with an increased risk of complications —including death."

That's why, the doctor said, there was a huge need for a vaccine.

Approved vaccine is 'great news': Doctor

For Sinha, granting approval for the Arexvy vaccine was welcome news.

"I was really happy. This has been a real longtime coming," the doctor said.

"There's been a lot of research on trying to develop an RSV vaccine for decades, and so the fact that we finally have the first RSV vaccine now available, approved for use in Canada, is great news."

Sinha explained people over the age of 60 are six times more likely to die from RSV infection compared to even infants.

"We also don't have any effective treatments for it in older populations," he added. "That's why we're really excited that there is a vaccine available."

According to Sinha, RSV in seniors has been underappreciated for a long time.

Underappreciated impact of RSV

In the past, there's been a "reasonable job" testing people for viruses like influenza, for example, when people come to a hospital with flu-like symptoms. Sinha explained that's because there are specific treatments for that virus. For RSV, however, there aren't.

"We don't have any specific treatments against it other than what we call 'supportive care,' making sure that someone has access to enough oxygen and water," he said.

"We may be less likely to actually look for it, or test for it."

That means health providers haven't actually been measuring the level of RSV in communities.

But, current data does show that people who are infected with RSV are just as likely to die as people infected with influenza — a virus that causes about 3,500 deaths annually in Canada.

"We may be under appreciating a similar number of deaths that are occurring every year from RSV infections, because we just haven't routinely been screening."

The vaccine, he said, will be a gamechanger in reducing those numbers.

Health Canada announced in its approval the Arexvy vaccine will become available in limited quantities at first. But Sinha hopes that will change.

"What we're hoping is that with time, there'll be sufficient supply, there are going to be different vaccines coming to market," he explained.

But in the meantime, he hopes the following groups will be prioritized:

• people living in long term care homes

• people with an underlying chronic health condition

The vaccine should provide significant protection over two years, Sinha added.

He also said there are trials underway looking into the effectiveness of the RSV vaccine on young children and pregnant people.

"That's where we want to see this vaccine targeted for use in."

Should seniors get the RSV vaccine?

As we approach fall, bringing with it another season of viral illnesses, the expert doctor recommends people to stay on top of their annual vaccines, especially older adults.

According to Sinha, eligible seniors should get the RSV vaccine.

"The good news is... in light of COVID-19, I think a lot more Canadians are now much more aware of vaccines are much more positively in tuned with vaccines," Sinha added.

He said he will be recommending the newly approved Arexvy vaccine for RSV to his patients, but it doesn't stop there.

"We're recommending that Canadians consider getting the new COVID-19 booster if they're eligible for that, get their annual influenza vaccine, get their RSV vaccine, and if they haven't gotten it, get their pneumococcal vaccine as well."

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