Researchers Highlight Need for Increased RSV Vaccination

According to research findings published in The Lancet, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines are proven to be effective, but more individuals need to be immunized. With 2023’s approval of RSV vaccines, researchers have evaluated the vaccines' real-world impacts, emphasizing their positive results.¹

Vaccine bottles and syringes for preventing respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) - Image credit: kitsawet | stock.adobe.com

“The evidence is clear; individuals should get vaccinated if they have conditions that place them at risk for severe disease. For older adults and those with chronic conditions, RSV should be considered as serious as the flu, and they should get vaccinated,” said Angela Branche, MD, an infectious diseases researcher at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), in a news release.¹

RSV commonly impacts older adults and individuals with underlying health conditions, causing millions of annual infections. Study authors noted that tens of thousands of deaths annually are associated with RSV infection in adults 60 years and older.¹ Data show that older adults hospitalized with RSV are 2 to 3 times more likely to need supplemental oxygen and are 1.5 times more likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), compared with individuals hospitalized for COVID-19 or influenza. Additionally, this population faces an increased risk of mechanical ventilation or death compared with those diagnosed with influenza, according to study authors.²

In 2023, the FDA approved 3 RSV vaccines—RSVPreF3 (Arexvy; GSK), RSVpreF (Abrysvo; Pfizer,) and mRNA-1345 (mRESVIA; Moderna).³ The current study assessed the effectiveness of the vaccines using data from a large electronic health record network, which included the CDC and various US health care networks.¹

Initial results found that the uptake of RSV vaccination in the winter of 2023-2024 was low, as only 24% of adults aged 60 years and older received an immunization, compared with 50% influenza vaccine coverage for the same population.¹

“Providers were not sure how to apply the shared clinical decision-making recommendations in the first season, and there remains a general lack of knowledge among the medical community and the public on what constitutes a risk for severe disease and who needs to be protected,” Branche said in the news release.¹

Despite the low rates of RSV vaccination, the study results showed that RSV vaccines were 80% effective in preventing hospitalization, ICU admission, and death among adults aged 60 years and older. The study authors noted that the effectiveness was matched across various age groups, including individuals aged 75 years and older and individuals who are immunocompromised.¹

Following the release of the study results, the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) updated their guidelines, recommending a single dose of any FDA-approved RSV vaccine for adults 75 years and older and for adults 60 to 75 years who are at increased risk for severe RSV. The updated recommendations replaced the previous suggestions that emphasized shared clinical decision-making.⁴

“This new data enabled the ACIP to make more definitive recommendations, which will build public confidence in the effectiveness of these vaccines and make implementation a lot easier for providers and pharmacies,” said Branche, in a news release.¹

REFERENCES

1. RSV vaccines effective, but more people need to get them. EurekAlert!. News release. October 28, 2024. Accessed November 7, 2024. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1062928.

2. Real-world effectiveness studies of the benefit of RSV vaccines. The Lancet. News release, October 2024. Accessed November 7, 2024. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0140673624021500?via%3Dihub#bbib12.

3. Ferruggia K. Study: How mRNA-1345 RSV Vaccine Compares to Previously Approved RSV Vaccines. Pharmacy Times. News release. August 5, 2024. Accessed November 7, 2024. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/study-how-mrna-1345-rsv-vaccine-compares-to-previously-approved-rsv-vaccines.

4. Ferruggia K. New ACIP Recommendations for RSV Vaccines Aim to Solve Challenges With Shared Clinical Decision-Making. Pharmacy Times. News release. August 30, 2024. Accessed November 7, 2024. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/new-acip-recommendations-for-rsv-vaccines-aim-to-solve-challenges-with-shared-clinical-decision-making.