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A new study published on December 13 in JAMA Network Open has revealed that the Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prefusion F (RSVpreF) vaccine is highly effective in preventing severe RSV-related lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) among adults aged 60 years or older.
The study, led by Dr. Sara Y. Tartof, Ph.D., M.P.H., from Kaiser Permanente Southern California, used a retrospective case-control design to assess the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing hospitalizations and emergency department visits for LRTD. The data were collected between November 24, 2023, and April 9, 2024, and included a total of 7,047 cases involving older adults, with an average age of 76.8 years. All participants had respiratory swabs collected and tested for RSV.
The study estimated the adjusted vaccine effectiveness to be 91% when using a strict control definition, which excluded RSV-negative LRTD events caused by non-vaccine-preventable diseases. In a broader analysis, which included all RSV-negative LRTD events, the vaccine’s effectiveness was estimated at 90%. This suggests that for every 250 people vaccinated, one RSV-related hospitalization or emergency department encounter could be prevented in the first season after vaccination.
RSV, a common virus that can cause serious respiratory illness, poses a significant risk to older adults, especially those with compromised immune systems or underlying health conditions. The study found that 14.2% of the participants were immunocompromised, and 93.3% had one or more chronic comorbidities, highlighting the vulnerability of this population.
The authors concluded that the RSVpreF vaccine represents a promising opportunity to reduce the burden of severe RSV disease in older adults, which could lead to fewer medically attended cases, hospitalizations, and emergency visits.
While several authors disclosed ties to biopharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, which manufactures the RSVpreF vaccine and funded the study, the findings are expected to have a significant impact on public health strategies for RSV prevention in vulnerable populations.
The full study is available in JAMA Network Open.
For more information: Tartof, S. Y., et al. “Estimated Vaccine Effectiveness for Respiratory Syncytial Virus–Related Lower Respiratory Tract Disease.” JAMA Network Open (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.50832.
