RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a respiratory illness that can be debilitating for babies and seniors over age 60. It’s been increasing in prevalence recently, with a surge in cases in 2022.
Now, NBA superstar Magic Johnson is working to spread the word that a new vaccine for it has just become available. Urging everyone over age 60 to get the shot, 64-year-old Johnson told Y! Life that as many as 14,000 seniors hospitalized for the virus each year may die from it.
Johnson said he first heard about RSV after he partnered with its maker, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in their Sideline RSV campaign to raise awareness on the dangers of the virus.
"The most important thing is having the information and the knowledge of RSV," Johnson said. "If there's a new vaccination coming out, my wife, Cookie, and I want to get it. I'm going to get vaccinated for RSV, like you get vaccinated for COVID, the shingles, the flu shot, on and on and on. I do them all."
SOURCE:
Y! Life October 2, 2023