Interim Evaluation of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Hospitalization Rates Among Infants and Young Children After Introduction of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prevention Products - United States, October 2024-February 2025.

Abstract

Maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine and nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody for infants aged 0-7 months and children aged 8-19 months who are at increased risk for severe RSV disease, became widely available for prevention of severe RSV disease among infants and young children during the 2024-25 RSV season. To evaluate the association between availability of these products and infant and child RSV-associated hospitalization rates, the rates among children aged <5 years were compared for the 2024-25 and 2018-20 RSV seasons using data from the RSV-Associated Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RSV-NET) and New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN). Among infants aged 0-7 months (eligible for protection with maternal vaccination or nirsevimab), 2024-25 RSV-associated hospitalization rates were lower compared with 2018-20 pooled rates (estimated relative rate reductions of 43% [RSV-NET: 95% CI = 40%-46%] and 28% [NVSN: 95% CI = 18%-36%]). The largest estimated rate reduction was observed among infants aged 0-2 months (RSV-NET: 52%, 95% CI = 49%-56%; NVSN: 45%, 95% CI = 32%-57%) and during peak hospitalization periods (December-February). These findings support Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' recommendations for maternal vaccination or nirsevimab to protect against severe RSV disease in infants and highlight the importance of implementing the recommendations to protect infants as early in the RSV season as possible, before peak transmission, and for infants born during the RSV season, within the first week of life, ideally during the birth hospitalization.