RSV Vaccine Proven Effective in Reducing RSV-Related Hospitalizations

This article was originally published on Pharmacy Times®.

The findings suggest that RSV vaccination was proved to be 77% to 81% effective against associated critical illness, hospitalization, and emergency department encounters in the 2023-2024 season. | Image credit: JUN LI - stock.adobe.com

A new study findings published in The Lancet assessed the effectiveness of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines against RSV-associated hospitalizations and emergency department encounters among individuals at least 60 years of age. The study was conducted to confirm RSV vaccine effectiveness found in clinical trials against lower respiratory tract disease using real world data.¹

According to the CDC, the US experiences up to 160,000 hospitalizations and around 10,000 deaths among older adults due to RSV infection each year. Symptoms typically present like a mild cold but could become more severe among older adults.²

In June of 2023, the CDC recommended individuals 60 years and older to receive an RSV vaccine after proving to be effective against RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease in clinical trials.^1,2 The trials displayed that RSVPreF3 (Arexvy; GSK) provided 87.5% efficacy against RSV-associated lower respiratory tract disease and RSVpreF (Abrysvo; Pfizer) provided 84.6% efficacy.³

However, researchers found that there was limited real-world data on the vaccine’s effectiveness. To address the gaps in research from the clinical trials, investigators assessed hospitalizations and emergency department encounters among individuals that reported RSV illness for patients that were at least 60 years of age.^1,2

The researchers conducted a test-negative design analysis in an electronic health records-based network in 8 US states, which contributed data on inpatient, emergency department, and urgent care encounters among individuals that experienced RSV-associated illness from October 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024. The study authors noted that status of RSV vaccination was confirmed from electronic health record documents, state and city immunization registries, and medical claims.^1,3

According to the study authors, vaccine effectiveness was measured by an individual’s immunocompromised status, which compared the odds of vaccination among RSV-positive cases and RSV-negative cases. The estimated effectiveness was adjusted for age, race, ethnicity, sex, calendar day, social vulnerability index, amount of non-respiratory medical conditions, presence of underlying respiratory medical conditions, and geographical region.

The results found that, among 28,271 hospitalizations for RSV-like illness in individuals at least 60 years of age and were not immunocompromised, vaccine effectiveness was 80% against RSV-associated hospitalizations and 81% effective against RSV-associated critical illness. Further results found that vaccine effectiveness was 73% among 8435 individuals that were immunocompromised. Additionally, among 36,521 emergency department encounters for RSV-like illness, vaccine effectiveness was 77% in individuals that were immunocompromised, against RSV-associated emergency department encounters.

The findings suggest that RSV vaccination was proved to be 77% to 81% effective against associated critical illness, hospitalization, and emergency department encounters in the 2023-2024 season. This marked the first RSV season following the release of the approved vaccines, emphasizing their success.

References

1. Payne AB, Watts JA, Mitchell PK, et al. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine effectiveness against RSV-associated hospitalisations and emergency department encounters among adults aged 60 years and older in the USA, October, 2023, to March, 2024: a test-negative design analysis. Lancet. 2024;404(10462):1547-1559. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01738-0

2. Ferruggia K. RSV Vaccination Could Decrease Hospitalization Among Adults 60 Years and Older. Pharmacy Times. News release. September 6, 2024. Accessed November 13, 2024. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/rsv-vaccination-could-decrease-hospitalization-among-adults-60-years-and-older

3. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine effectiveness against RSV-associated hospitalisations and emergency department encounters among adults aged 60 years and older in the USA, October, 2023, to March, 2024: a test-negative design analysis. Science Direct. News release. October 19, 2024. Accessed November 13, 2024. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0140673624017380