Vaccines remain one of medicine’s most effective tools to prevent severe respiratory illness, reduce hospitalizations, and protect community health. Family physicians play a vital role in identifying immunization gaps, starting proactive conversations, and ensuring patients receive evidence-based protection during viral respiratory season.
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) provides clear guidance to protect vulnerable populations against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV):
- Adults: The AAFP supports guidelines recommending a one-time RSV vaccine for all adults 75 years and older, as well as for adults ages 50–74 who are at increased risk of severe disease due to underlying chronic conditions (such as cardiovascular or lung disease, end-stage renal disease, diabetes with complications, or severe obesity).
- Pregnant Individuals: To protect newborns from severe RSV lower respiratory tract disease during their first months of life, a single dose of maternal RSV vaccine is recommended between 32-36 weeks gestation, administered seasonally from September through January in most of the United States.
- Infants and Young Children: For infants under 8 months of age born during or entering their first RSV season without maternal vaccination protection, as well as high-risk infants 8 through 19 months entering their second season, passive immunization using long-acting monoclonal antibodies is recommended.
Review AAFP’s up-to-date recommendations for flu, COVID and RSV.
Included among the preventive options in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the AAFP child immunization guidance is ENFLONSIA™ (clesrovimab-cfor), developed by Merck.
- Indication: ENFLONSIA is indicated for the prevention of RSV lower respiratory tract disease in neonates and infants born during or entering their first RSV season.
- Administration & Dosing: Administered as a single 105 mg intramuscular (IM) injection starting from birth (or prior to the first RSV season for infants born outside the season), providing 5 months of protection without the need for weight-based dosing adjustments.
- Safety Profile: Contraindicated in infants with a history of serious hypersensitivity reactions (including anaphylaxis) to any component. The most common reported adverse reactions are injection-site erythema (3.8%), injection-site swelling (2.7%), and rash (2.3%). Note that clesrovimab may interfere with rapid antigen diagnostic assays; RT-PCR confirmation is recommended if rapid antigen tests are negative but clinical suspicion remains high.
For additional clinical data, please visit Merck’s official website for physicians.
Clinical Practice Takeaway
Integrating routine conversations about RSV protection, whether discussing adult vaccination, maternal immunization, or infant monoclonal antibody options, helps family physicians safeguard patients of all ages against severe seasonal respiratory disease.
This educational content is shared through the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) Partners in Health Program with support from Merck, a proud Partner in Health, to help family physicians stay informed about RSV prevention options for their patients.
About Partners in Health
The OAFP’s Partners in Health Program is an online resource that contains links to organizations that provide patient education and high-value tools designed to support family physicians and their care teams in delivering optimal frontline care.
If you have questions about the OAFP’s Partners in Health Program, please contact Deputy Executive Vice President Kaitlin McGuffie or call 800.742.7327.