US approves the world’s first vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

The US Food and Drug Administration has authorised a drug against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – an infection that kills many Americans annually.

The medicine still needs permission from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before it can be supplied out to the people.

Officials say the drug, called Arexvy by the manufacturer GSK, is a breakthrough that will save numerous lives. It could be open to people over 60 within months, officials state.

“Today’s approval of the first RSV drug is an essential public health achievement to control an illness which can be life-threatening,” stated Dr Peter Marks, who directs the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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RSV is a respiratory illness that generally results in cold-like signs for adults but can be harmful to young kids, the elderly, and those with underlying health conditions.

According to the CDC, it kills 100-300 kids under the age of 5 in the US per year. It even kills approximately 6,000 to 10,000 adults over 65 yearly, forcing between 60,000 to 120,000 hospital admissions.

In extreme cases, it can cause bronchiolitis, which builds up inflammation in the lungs and causes trouble breathing. The vaccine was over 60 years in the making and is the first to win permission to control RSV anywhere in the world.

Source – BBC