CDC Advisors Recommend Limited Use of Pfizer and GSK RSV Vaccines for Older Adults

Intelligent Finance APP learned that an independent advisory group of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended on Wednesday that Pfizer (PFE.US) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.US) roll out their new vaccines on a limited basis to prevent severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in the elderly.

The experts present did not agree that all elderly people should be vaccinated with GSK's and Pfizer’s vaccines, branded as Arexvy and Abrysvo respectively, which were approved for marketing by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last month.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) voted 9 to 5 to recommend that Americans aged 65 and older "may" receive the RSV vaccine after discussing with their healthcare provider.

The panel voted 13 to 0 to extend the same policy to people aged 60 to 64, with one member abstaining. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky is expected to consider their recommendation before issuing a final decision later this week or early next week.

ACIP's decision proposed a narrower recommendation, which might lead to a lower vaccination rate than vaccine manufacturers would hope for if ACIP had adopted a stronger "should" recommendation.

During the meeting, GSK committed to pricing its vaccine at $200 to $295 per dose, while Pfizer stated that its vaccine’s price range would be $180 to $270 per dose, noting that the final price would depend on ongoing pricing negotiations.

Both pharmaceutical companies hope to launch new vaccines before the RSV season later this year.