GSK sponsors the 2025 National Senior Games to raise awareness about RSV risks and prevention for older adults through education and athlete stories.
GSK announced that it will be sponsoring the 2025 National Senior Games as a part of its nationwide Sideline RSV campaign, an educational campaign that provides older adults with the disease and their loved ones with vital information on the risks and treatments of RSV.
The National Senior Games provides the opportunity for older adults to remain active and engaged in competitive physical activities such as basketball and swimming. The games also provide the opportunity to raise awareness about risks related to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) while also helping put a focus on healthy aging and RSV prevention. Later this fall, GSK also has a planned television special “Redefining Aging with Senior Athletes” which will include four Senior Games athletes and their personal journeys with RSV.
Leonard Friedland, MD, VP and director of scientific affairs and public health at GSK, discussed the initiative, saying, “As a physician, I want all adults, athletes or not, especially those 50 and older, to understand that RSV isn’t just a childhood illness. RSV can lead to hospitalization or worse, particularly for those with certain chronic conditions. That’s why it’s so important to stay informed and have a conversation with your doctor or pharmacist. Prevention starts with awareness—and that first step is a conversation.”1
Although RSV can infect anyone, although adults aged 50-74 with specific risk factors (such as chronic heart & lung disease) and those aged 75 and older have an increased risk for contracting severe RSV infections. This leads to an estimated 177,000 hospitalizations in U.S. adults aged 65 and older annually, while an estimated 14,000 of hospitalizations result in death.
Carole, a Sideline RSV MVP athlete competing in track and field, spoke on her personal experiences with RSV and the effects it had on her. “While I’m normally an active person, when I had RSV, I couldn’t go to work or get out of bed,” she said. “It was devastating, and it’s not something I saw coming. Now, I want to encourage others to talk to their physician or pharmacist about RSV so they can continue to be there for life’s big moments, be it competing at the National Senior Games or enjoying time with family. I don’t want RSV to sideline myself or others again.” 1
The severity of RSV and lack of public awareness led to GSK creating its Sideline RSV campaign, to educate older adults and their loved ones on the risks associated with RSV while also raising awareness of the conversion surrounding RSV in the older adult community.
The campaign will be active during the games running from July 24th to August 4th, as well as after its conclusion, with GSK planning on sharing educational materials, senior athlete profiles, and encouraging discussions about RSV risk preventions nationwide.
GSK’s television special “Redefining Aging with Senior Athletes” is expected to air between September and November on local stations with streaming options available online and will be another piece of GSK’s campaign. The special will feature Senior Games athletes referred to as “Sideline RSV MVPs” will each relay personal experiences with RSV as well as provide methods of prevention. The goal of the special is to increase public awareness of the impact RSV has, while also celebrating the stories of the Sideline RSV MVPs.
