How to Get RSV Vaccines to Those Who Need Them Most

The world is entering a new era of vaccines. Following the success of COVID-19 mRNA shots, scientists have a far greater capacity to tailor shots to a virus’s structure, putting a host of new vaccines on the horizon. The most recent arrivals are several new immunizations against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. These shots are welcome since RSV can be dangerous, even deadly, in the very old and very young. But the shots, produced by Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline, are also expensive, costing about $300 for those directed at adults, and up to $1,000 for one of the shots, a monoclonal antibody rather than a traditional vaccine, intended for babies. Many older vaccines cost pennies.And in part because of the high cost, there is a shortage of RSV shots for infants, leading the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a warning for doctors to prioritize the most vulnerable babies. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] More From TIME [video id=4wOCJg0m autostart="viewable"] The advent of these new drugs is forcing the U.S. to face anew questions it has long sidestepped: How much should an immunization cost that will possibly be given—maybe yearly—to millions of Americans? Also, given the U.S. is one of two countries that permit direct advertising to consumers: How can we ensure the shots get into the arms of people who will truly benefit and not those of people who seek it out as a result of scary marketing, at great expense?...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Drugs Source Type: news