The High Authority of Health recommends vaccinating those over 75 against RSV, the virus responsible for bronchiolitis, from this autumn

In an opinion issued on Thursday, July 4, the High Authority for Health (HAS) recommends vaccinating those over 75 against RSV, the respiratory syncytial virus, which causes bronchiolitis, using two vaccines that have recently obtained marketing authorization. The HAS also recommends vaccinating those over 65 who suffer from chronic respiratory or cardiac diseases. Every winter in France, 15,000 to 20,000 elderly people must be hospitalized due to this virus and several thousand die from it.

From this fall, there will therefore be two vaccines available, to choose from, one from the British laboratory GSK, the other from the American Pfizer. The Scientific Agency leaves the choice to health professionals. A third vaccine is currently being validated.

At the end of June, the European Medicines Agency gave the first green light to another RSV vaccine, also intended for seniors, produced this time by the American laboratory Moderna. We will still have to wait for the opinion of the European Commission to ratify its marketing.

This fall, seniors will be able to get vaccinated against Covid, the flu and RSV for the first time.