Prevalent from October to March Each Year
Older Adults and Young Children Are Primary High-Risk Groups
10.6% of Patients Aged 65 and Older Die in Hospital
About 90% of Children Experience First Infection Within Two Years of Birth
Experts are advising that vaccination should be expedited before the full-scale spread of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection, which becomes prevalent starting in October, as it can be fatal for older adults and young children.
According to the medical community on September 18, the RSV infection season runs from October each year to March of the following year. Professor Yoon Youngkyung of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Anam Hospital emphasized, "The RSV infection season begins in earnest in October, and considering the time it takes for the vaccine to become effective after administration, now is the optimal time for vaccination."
RSV infection is an acute respiratory illness caused by the Respiratory Syncytial Virus, which belongs to the Pneumoviridae family. The main symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and sore throat. Along with influenza and COVID-19, it is classified as a Category 4 notifiable infectious disease. RSV infection is as contagious as influenza and, especially in high-risk groups, can lead to complications such as pneumonia.
The primary high-risk groups for RSV infection are adults aged 60 and older, young children, and those with chronic heart or lung diseases. According to domestic research, about 65% of RSV infection patients were aged 65 or older, and among them, 25% were admitted to intensive care units. Additionally, 56.8% of patients were diagnosed with pneumonia, and 10.6% died in the hospital.
For young children, approximately 90% experience their first RSV infection within two years of birth, and among them, 20% to 30% progress to pneumonia or other complications. In more severe cases, intensive care treatment may be required, or it can even result in death.
Although RSV can be fatal for high-risk groups, there is still no direct treatment available, making prevention crucial. However, experts agree that, compared to influenza or COVID-19, public awareness of RSV is low, leading to an underestimation of the disease's risks.
Currently, there are two preventive options available in Korea, depending on the target group. Adults can receive the vaccine "Arexvy" from GSK, while young children can be protected against infection with the preventive antibody injection "Beyfortus" from Sanofi.
Professor Yoon stated, "Vaccination is an effective preventive measure based on scientific evidence," and urged, "Since the risk of hospitalization or death increases in high-risk groups, active RSV vaccination is necessary for these populations."
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