RSV Vaccines Show Meaningful Protection for Vulnerable Populations, New Data Reveal
Berlin, germany โ – Recent analyses confirm substantial benefits from newly approved RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccines, โคoffering significantโค protection to infants, young children, older adults, and pregnant individuals. A review of randomized studies indicates the vaccines reduced lower respiratory tract infections by 54โ percent and lowered the risk of serious disease by 74 percent. Hospital stays linked to RSV were also reduced by 54 percent, accordingโ to the โฃdata.
RSV poses the greatest threat to children underโข two years old and older adults. “These are encouraging news for two โคof the most endangered groups,” stated Dr. KM Saif-UR-Rahman of the University of Galway โคin Ireland.
The findings are based โคon data from โrandomized controlled trials, considered the “strongest โavailable”โค evidence, according to Kate Olsson, a vaccineโค expert at the European Center for Prevention and Disease Control โ(ECDC). Real-world studies are currently underway to further assess vaccine โsafety and effectiveness, with additional analyses expectedโ in the coming weeks. (DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD016131)
Germany’s Approach: In Germany,โฃ an RSV vaccine is approved for pregnant women, but cost coverage by statutory โฃhealth insurance requires a recommendation โfrom the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO). โCurrently, STIKO does โค not recommend RSV vaccination for pregnant women. Rather, the commission recommends all newborns and infants receive a dose of the monoclonal antibody Nirsevimab either before or during their first RSV season (typically โฃOctober to march).Forโ babies born between April andโ September, STIKO advises administering Nirsevimab in the autumn โprior to the season’s start, โขand as soon as possible after birth for those โborn during the season.
STIKO does recommend RSV vaccination for individuals aged 75 andโ over, and for those agedโข 60 and over with underlying health conditions thatโ increase โtheir risk of โsevere โillness. Detailed informationโ isโฃ available on the RKI website.(https://www.rki.de/SharedDocs/FAQs/DE/Impfen/RSV/FAQ_Liste_RSV.html?nn=16777208#entry_16918914)
sources: STIKO: Epidemiologisches Bulletin 04/2025, Information onโ RSV, Frequently asked questions about RSV vaccination.(https://www.rki.de/DE/Aktuelles/Publikationen/Epidemiologisches-Bulletin/2025/04_25.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=11, https://www.rki.de/DE/Themen/Infektionskrankheiten/Impfen/Impfungen-A-Z/RSV/rsv-node.html, https://www.rki.de/SharedDocs/FAQs/DE/Impfen/RSV/FAQ_Liste_RSV.html?nn=16777208#entry_16918914)