High-Level Highlights
Two landmark studies published in late 2024 have provided the first comprehensive real-world comparison of the two primary strategies for preventing severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants: maternal vaccination with RSVpreF and passive immunization with the long-acting monoclonal antibody nirsevimab. Key takeaways include:
- Nirsevimab was associated with a 26% lower risk of RSV-associated hospitalization compared to maternal RSVpreF vaccination in a large French cohort.
- In the United States, nirsevimab demonstrated 81% effectiveness against hospitalization, while maternal vaccination showed 70% effectiveness among infants under 6 months.
- Nirsevimab significantly reduced the risk of severe outcomes, including a 42% reduction in PICU admissions and a 43% reduction in the need for mechanical ventilation compared to maternal vaccination.
- Both strategies successfully reduced the population-level burden of RSV, with US hospitalization rates for infants under 1 year falling by nearly half compared to pre-implementation seasons.
