Perceived barriers to respiratory syncytial virus vaccination and vaccination coverage among pregnant women: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Introduction. Argentina introduced maternal vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in 2024 to prevent severe respiratory infections in infants. To ensure satisfactory vaccination rates, it is important to identify barriers to its implementation. Objective. To identify barriers to RSV vaccination among pregnant women. We estimated RSV vaccination coverage and the potential association between coverage and barriers. Population and methods. A cross-sectional study based on a survey of mothers who were eligible to receive the RSV vaccine. We developed and validated a tool to identify structural, informational, emotional, and social barriers. We used logistic regression for univariate and multivariate analyses. Results. We surveyed 216 mothers. RSV vaccine coverage was 43.7%. In the univariate analysis, fewer than 5 prenatal visits and not receiving clear information were associated with lower vaccination rates. In the multivariate analysis, knowledge of the RSV vaccine was the only factor independently associated with vaccination coverage (adjusted OR: 3.4; 95% CI: 1.9-6.2; p <0.001). Conclusion. RSV vaccination coverage among pregnant women was lower than that for other vaccines recommended during pregnancy. We identified limited vaccine availability and limited knowledge about the vaccine as factors associated with non-vaccination. Strengthening information and recommendations during prenatal care could help improve vaccination coverage. This study provides a validated tool for assessing barriers to vaccination among pregnant women.