Rite Aid 25710 Barton Road, Loma Linda, CA | Pharmacy, Wellness Clinic, Online Refills (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions About RSV Vaccines

• Adults aged 60 and above, who are at heightened risk for severe illness from RSV, include:

  • those with certain chronic medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease
  • those with a weakened immune system
  • those living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities
  • older adults

  Children at the greatest risk for severe illness from RSV
  include:

  • Premature infants
  • Infants up to 12 months, especially those 6 months and younger
  • Children younger than 2 years with chronic lung disease or congenital (present from birth) heart disease
  • Children with weakened immune systems
  • Children who have neuromuscular disorders, including those who have difficulty swallowing or clearing mucus secretions

• At the time of writing, only one dose of an RSV vaccine is recommended by the CDC. One dose has the ability to provide protection for a minimum of two RSV seasons, and an assessment by the CDC is underway to determine whether additional doses may be necessary in the future.

• Yes. RSV vaccines are accessible in local pharmacies. Stop by and talk to your pharmacist or schedule online at https://www.riteaid.com/schedule.

• Yes. In keeping with the CDC's general best practices guidelines, RSV vaccines can be co-administered with other vaccines, including yearly flu shots and the COVID-19 vaccines. This may result in an increased risk of side effects, but these should be mild and manageable with over the counter medications.

• Common side effects from the RSV vaccine include fever, fatigue, headaches, and muscle or joint pain. Some individuals may experience nausea or diarrhea. These symptoms are typically mild. If you experience bothersome side effects after vaccination, they can generally be treated with over-the-counter medications. Ask your pharmacist for assistance with product selection.

  If symptoms are severe or persist for more than a few days, seek medical advice. Some research suggests that there is a risk of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) or similar inflammatory neurologic events, but research is underway by the CDC to confirm this. GBS is a rare condition in which your immune system attacks your nerves, causing symptoms such as weakness. At this time, an increased risk of GBS cannot be confirmed. Additional post-marketing surveillance is underway to provide more information. The CDC and FDA will share data on RSV vaccine safety as it becomes available.

• The Abrysvo vaccine is the only RSV vaccine approved for use during pregnancy to protect infants from RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). The vaccine should be administered during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy. In most of the continental United States, the vaccine should be administered from September through January.

• If you are at risk of contracting RSV or have any health conditions or you are immunocompromised, don't hesitate to speak to your healthcare professional and schedule your appointment for vaccination with your local Rite Aid store. With a wide network of stores, it shouldn't be difficult to find an RSV vaccine near you.