Free RSV vaccine with most insurance at CVS®

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus* that can be serious for older adults and infants. Symptoms can be mild, like a cold, but this virus can also cause more severe infections.

Further information about RSV can be found here

In most cases, an RSV infection clears within a week or two on its own. Initial signs of RSV are similar to mild cold symptoms. 

Symptoms of an RSV infection usually appear four to six days after exposure and can include the following:

• Coughing
• Decrease in appetite
• Fever
• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Wheezing

Symptoms of RSV in adults that require urgent care can include the following:

• Difficulty breathing
• Dehydration from not drinking necessary fluids
• Worsening symptoms

These symptoms usually appear in phases and not all at once.

Because mild RSV symptoms are similar to the common cold, testing usually isn't required to diagnose the infection. 

However, your health care provider may suspect RSV based on your medical history, the time of year and a physical exam. If you fall into a high-risk category for specific respiratory viruses, they may want to run laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis.

More information on an RVS diagnosis can be found here

Each year, it’s estimated that between 110,000 and 180,000 adults adults ages 50 and older in the United States are hospitalized due to RSV.

Older adults, especially those living in long-term care facilities and those with certain existing medical conditions (like chronic lung or heart disease), are at a greater risk for severe infection and pneumonia.

People with moderate or severe immune compromise are also at risk of RSV becoming severe or life-threatening. Those at risk include recipients of organ transplants and patients undergoing chemotherapy, as well as patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

People do not develop long-lasting immunity to RSV after a natural infection, so they can become infected repeatedly over their lifetime.

RSV is spread* from person to person through close contact with someone who is infected.

Someone can get the virus when:

• An infected person coughs or sneezes.
• Virus droplets from a cough or sneeze get into the eyes, nose or mouth.
• They have direct contact with the virus, such as by kissing the face of a child with RSV.
• They touch a surface that has the virus on it, like a doorknob, and then touch their face before washing their hands.
• It usually takes between four and six days from the time of RSV exposure for someone to become ill. People infected with RSV are usually contagious for three to eight days and may become contagious a day or two before they start showing signs of illness.

The peak season for RSV infection in most of the United States begins in the fall and peaks in the winter.

Learn more about how RSV is spread

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,* there are easy ways available to help prevent the transmission of RSV and other respiratory viruses. This is especially important if you have a loved one who is at risk for severe infection.

• Wash your hands often: Use soap and water and wash for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Keep your hands off your face: Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with sick people: Avoid kissing, shaking hands and sharing cups or food utensils with people who have cold-like symptoms.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve when coughing or sneezing.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces: Viruses can live on surfaces and on objects that people frequently touch, such as toys and doorknobs.
• Stay home when you are sick: If possible, stay away from work, school and public areas.

Yes. Those who are pregnant and 32 through 36 weeks gestational age are eligible. You may schedule an RSV vaccine appointment not only to help protect yourself, which then protects your fetus, but also to help protect your baby from severe RSV disease after birth. You can schedule an RSV vaccination online using the digital scheduler on CVS.com^® or in the CVS Pharmacy^® app.

RSV is estimated to cause 58,000 to 80,000 children under the age of 5 years old to be hospitalized each year in the US. Infants 6 months and under are especially at risk for severe illness. Getting vaccinated in weeks 32 through 36 weeks of pregnancy passes RSV protection to the baby if born at least two weeks after vaccination. A maternal RSV vaccine — approved by the Food and Drug Administration and recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — can reduce the risk of a baby being hospitalized due to RSV by 57% in the first six months after birth.

Those who are 32 through 36 weeks pregnant during September through January in most of the continental United States are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to get one dose of maternal RSV vaccine to protect their babies. RSV season can vary around the country, so talk to your pharmacist or health care provider about when RSV season is expected where you live.

Patients should check with their insurer to confirm if the vaccine is covered by their individual plan.

Researchers are working to develop pediatric preventative options to help protect infants and young children from severe RSV, but there is no traditional vaccine currently available for this population yet.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting the RSV vaccine in late summer or early fall for adults 50 and older. People can contract RSV any time of the year, but RSV begins to spread more in the fall and winter, and infections usually peak in December and January.

A single dose of the RSV vaccine can help prevent severe illness and lung infections due to RSV in adults 50 and over for at least two RSV years. If you’re 50 or over, discuss your vaccination options with your health care provider or pharmacist to help you determine if the RSV vaccine is the right choice for your specific needs.

Research has shown that the available vaccines can help prevent serious RSV related lung infections in adults ages 50 and older.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the RSV vaccine may also help prevent serious illness in people with compromised immune systems due to chronic conditions.

The RSV vaccines help your body create an immune response against the virus. Specific effectiveness varies from person to person. Your body’s response to the vaccine may aid in preventing serious illness if you catch RSV.

Check your insurance plan to understand your coverage for vaccinations to find out whether and where you’re able to get an RSV vaccination at no cost to you. 

If CVS^® is out of network for your insurance plan and you choose to receive the RSV vaccine at a CVS pharmacy, you will be charged*

• $295.00 for Pfizer ABRYSVO
• $280.00 for GSK Arexvy
• $359.99 for Moderna mResvia

In most cases, Medicare Part D covers the RSV vaccine with no out-of-pocket costs for copays or deductibles.* Part D plans cover all vaccines approved by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

If you don't see the RSV vaccine on your plan's drug list, you can request a coverage exception through Medicare. You also have the option of paying out of pocket for your RSV vaccine. You can request reimbursement through your Medicare plan. If you have questions or concerns about vaccine coverage, contact your plan provider.

Most adults experience mild, short-term side effects after receiving an RSV vaccine, and they typically resolve within a few days. Common side effects include:

• Pain, redness or swelling at the injection site
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Muscle or joint pain
• Nausea

These reactions are a normal sign that your body is building protection against RSV. If you have questions about common side effects or ways to manage them, talk with your health care provider or a MinuteClinic® provider.

Seek medical attention right away if you experience signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat or hives after vaccination.

Yes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that RSV vaccines may be administered during the same visit as flu and COVID-19 vaccines. Receiving multiple vaccines during one appointment can help ensure eligible patients stay up-to-date and protected against more than one respiratory illness.

You may experience side effects such as fatigue, muscle aches or soreness at the injection site after receiving multiple vaccines at the same visit. These side effects are typically mild.

If you have questions about receiving multiple vaccines at once or your personal health situation, talk with your CVS® pharmacist or a MinuteClinic® provider. They can help you determine the vaccination plan that's right for you.

There are three FDA approved RSV vaccines available for eligible adults in the United States: GSK (Arexvy®) and two forms of Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccine (Abrysvo® and mRESVIA®). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not express a preference for one vaccine over another for adults 50 and over. All three vaccines have been shown to help protect against severe RSV related lower respiratory tract disease.

The right vaccine for you may depend on factors such as your age, pregnancy status, health history and vaccine availability. Ask your CVS® pharmacist or MinuteClinic® provider which RSV vaccine is available and whether it may be appropriate for you.