Science finally figured out how to make effective RSV vaccines. Will seniors care?

The world has waited decades for vaccines to protect older adults against RSV. One, made by GSK, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration earlier this month. A second, made by Pfizer, is expected to follow by the end of May. Both will likely be in use this fall, in time to protect seniors going into the next RSV season.

So it’s tempting to think the fight against respiratory syncytial virus in older adults is about to kick into high gear, that as early as next winter the United States might start to see a turning of the tide in terms of the number of seniors who develop severe disease from a bout of RSV.