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Vaccine Preventable Disease Control
County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Health
Vaccine Preventable Disease Control Program
3530 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 700
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Phone: (213) 351-7800
Email: ip@ph.lacounty.gov
How well do RSV immunizations work?
Side effects from RSV vaccine are usually mild. Common side effects may include:
Who SHOULD get the vaccine:
Vaccination recommendations vary depending on age, health factors and other medical conditions.
Who should NOT get the vaccine (if applicable):
There are many places to get the RSV vaccine. If you have insurance, talk to your doctor or check with your local pharmacy to see what vaccines are offered. Most health insurances cover the cost of all recommended vaccines for children and adults.
If you are uninsured or underinsured, there are programs available to help cover the cost of vaccines. Children who are 18 years of age or younger are eligible to receive vaccines at no cost through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program if they are:
Click to see if your child is eligible to receive VFC vaccines: English | Spanish
NOTE: Nirsevimab is also available for VFC – eligible children at LAC Public Health Centers. Contact the clinic to ensure availability.
Uninsured or underinsured adults can access free or low cost vaccines at select clinics enrolled in the Vaccines for Adults (VFA) program. For more information on who is eligible, read VFA Eligibility Based on Insurance Status. You can use the following resources for more information on locating clinics:
You can also dial 2-1-1 for a list of free or low cost vaccine clinics. This includes Vaccines for Children (VFC) provider locations that serve Medi-Cal eligible children and uninsured or underinsured adults. Learn more about specific vaccine information for different age groups:
Are you not sure if you have been vaccinated against RSV or you can’t find your vaccine records?
If you need official copies of your vaccine records, or if you need to update your personal records:
Each year in the United States, RSV leads to approximately:
RSV infection can cause a variety of respiratory illnesses and symptoms in infants and young children. It most commonly causes a cold-like illness but can also cause lower respiratory infections, like bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
In adults, symptoms are usually consistent with an upper respiratory tract infection, which can include rhinorrhea, pharyngitis, cough, headache, fatigue, and fever. Milder illness in adults typically resolves in 1–2 weeks. However, RSV can also cause severe pulmonary disease and hospitalization in older adults and those with underlying conditions.
Maternal RSV Vaccine
Infant RSV Immunization
| Age of Administration | Dose | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| < 8 months or born shortly before or during RSV season | Infants < 5kg (<11 lbs) - 50mg (IM) purple plunger Infants ≥ 5kg (≥ 11 lbs) - 100 mg (IM) light blue plunger |
Administer within one week of birth – preferably before discharge. Dose can be administered along with the Hep B birth dose. |
| 8 – 19 months entering their 2nd RSV season | 200 mg (IM) [2 - 100mg injections on the same day] | Dose can be co-administered with other age – appropriate vaccines, i.e., COVID and flu. |
Proper vaccine storage and handling practices play an important role. For general recommendations and guidance access the Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit.
See Reportable Communicable Diseases for reporting requirements for RSV.
Click here for more information on reporting a Vaccine Adverse Event.
Report adverse events when nirsevimab is administered alone, to FDA MedWatch or via phone 800-FDA-1088. When nirsevimab is administered with other vaccines, adverse events should be reported to VAERS.
There is no specific treatment for RSV infection other than supportive care.
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Public Health has made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translation. However, no computerized translation is perfect and is not intended to replace traditional translation methods. If questions arise concerning the accuracy of the information, please refer to the English edition of the website, which is the official version.
