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PRESENTED BY EVERNORTH HEALTH SERVICES |
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FDA approves Pfizer RSV shot for older adults |
After decades without any RSV shots, the market is suddenly very competitive. |
© Hill Illustration, Madeline Monroe/iStock/CDC via AP |
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday approved Pfizer's vaccine to prevent the respiratory disease RSV in older adults, the company announced.
The approval of Pfizer's Abrysvo marks the second authorized RSV shot for older adults in the U.S. this month, after GlaxoSmithKline won approval for its rival shot, Arexvy.
"A vaccine to help prevent RSV had been an elusive public health goal for more than half a century," said Annaliesa Anderson, Pfizer's chief scientific officer for vaccine research and development. "Today's approval is a monumental step forward in delivering on Pfizer's commitment to help alleviate the significant burden of RSV in higher-risk populations."
FDA is also considering Pfizer's maternal RSV vaccine, intended to be given to pregnant individuals to help protect against RSV in infants. A monoclonal antibody treatment from Sanofi and AstraZeneca is also under review.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will still need to sign off on any shot or treatment before it can reach the public. The agency's independent advisory panel will meet twice next month to make recommendations.
Pfizer's vaccine is expected to be available before the start of next RSV season.
In healthy adults and older children, RSV typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms that go away with moderate rest and self care.
But older adults are at increased risk of severe RSV illness and drive the majority of RSV hospitalizations.
The virus causes between 60,000 and 160,000 hospitalizations annually for adults older than 65 in the U.S. and 6,000 to 13,000 deaths, according to federal statistics.
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Welcome to The Hill's Health Care newsletter, I'm Nathaniel Weixel — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health. |
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How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond: |
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Just one day after Minnesota legalized the recreational use of marijuana, an agency that regulates the use of firearms warned that any current user of marijuana is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (AFT) field office in St. Paul, Minn., issued the clarification Tuesday shortly after Gov. Tim Walz (D) signed a bill legalizing recreational marijuana. |
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The Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down two laws Wednesday that required a "medical emergency" before a doctor could terminate a pregnancy to save a mother's life, but abortion access remains heavily restricted in the state. In a 6-3 ruling Wednesday, the state Supreme Court ruled that two bills passed by the Oklahoma Legislature in 2022 (SB 1603 and HB 4327) were unconstitutional based on a March ruling that determined the … |
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Sen. Tommy Tuberville's (R-Ala.) national security adviser has resigned after a Washington Post story last week suggested he was largely behind the senator's controversial hold on hundreds of military nominations, according to media reports Wednesday. Morgan Murphy, a retired Navy reservist and former food writer who once attempted to sell a line of bacon products, told The Post he "explained all his options" … |
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A MESSAGE FROM EVERNORTH HEALTH SERVICES |
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Upcoming news themes and events we're watching: |
- Congress is pressing ahead with a deal to raise the debt limit, with the House set to vote on the legislation Wednesday night.
- CDC Director Rochelle Walensky will testify before the House select subcommittee on the coronavirus pandemic on June 13.
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Branch out with a different read from The Hill: |
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Researchers link death in gene-editing study to a virus used to deliver the treatment, not CRISPR |
The lone volunteer in a gene-editing study targeting a rare form of Duchenne muscular dystrophy likely died after having a reaction to the virus that delivered the therapy in his body, researchers concluded in an early study. Terry Horgan, 27, of Montour Falls, New York, died last year during one of the first tests of a gene-editing treatment … | |
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Cancer Care Access & Equity: Breaking Barriers to Innovation, June 8, 2-3 p.m. ET |
We live in a groundbreaking era of innovation in oncology, yet cancer continues to be the second leading cause of death in the United States. What obstacles stand in the way of optimal cancer care? The Hill will bring together policymakers, health experts and patient advocates to discuss the changes to the cancer care delivery system, with the following speakers: Rep. Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), Co-Chair of the Cancer Caucus and member of the House Ways & Means Committee; Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Co-Chair of the Cancer Caucus and Senior Member of the House Ways & Means Committee; and Dr. Karen Knudsen, CEO of the American Cancer Society; Dr. Danielle Carnival, coordinator for White House Cancer Moonshot; Ysabel Duron, president and executive director of The Latino Cancer Institute; and Dr. Daniel Derman, SVP of administration at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. |
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Local and state headlines on health care: |
- Tennessee woman gets emergency hysterectomy after doctors deny early abortion care (ABC)
- Minnesota wanted to curb health spending. Mayo Clinic had other ideas (Politico)
- Between unwinding and renewals, SD health providers seek to bridge larger-than-expected Medicaid gap (The Mitchell Republic)
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Health news we've flagged from other outlets: |
- House Republicans demand career scientist explain pathogen research (Stat)
- How a medical recoding may limit cancer patients' options for breast reconstruction (KFF Health News)
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Most read stories on The Hill right now: |
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The debt ceiling bill is headed toward likely passage in the House on Wednesday evening after clearing a key procedural hurdle. The House voted 241-187 … Read more |
| Former President Trump is returning to his calls to remove birthright citizenship, with his 2024 White House campaign announcing Tuesday he would seek … Read more |
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Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill: |
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You're all caught up. See you tomorrow! |
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