(WXYZ) — In today’s Health Alert, a new study shows that one dose of the RSV vaccine may protect older adults through not just one, but two cold and flu seasons. However, the protection faded over time.

For the study, researchers looked at nearly 7,000 adults over the age of 60. All had been hospitalized with severe breathing problems in 20 states.

And here’s what they found: the RSV vaccine works. RSV is short for respiratory syncytial virus. Overall, the shot cut the risk of hospitalization by about 58% over two seasons. Breaking it down, in the first season after the shot, protection was strongest and lowered the risk of being hospitalized by about 69%. In the second season, protection dropped, but was still nearly 50%.

Researchers also found much lower protection for people with wea

See Full Page