The Facts
On Wednesday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Arexvy, the world's first Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine for adults 60 and older.
The approval of Arexvy, developed by GlaxoSmithKline, is based on the FDA's analysis of data from a phase III clinical trial in which the vaccine's single-dose shot reduced the risk of lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV by nearly 83%.
The Spin
Narrative A
The approval of the world's first RSV vaccine is a tremendous opportunity to help address a critical public health need. The development of Arexvy is a breakthrough that will save many lives by preventing millions from contracting a highly contagious, life-threatening disease.
Narrative B
It is essential to adequately assess this shot's efficacy and potential association with Guillain-Barré before releasing it for public use. Moreover, additional research is needed to determine if it can be given seasonally, like flu shots, and how effective it will be for RSV patients undergoing specific treatments, such as chemotherapy or organ transplants.
