Today, The Lancet published the first real-world data analysis of the effectiveness of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines in older Americans in a large, multi-state study. The study showed that the vaccine was 80% effective in preventing hospitalization and death during the 2023-2024 RSV season.
The authors said the study results should encourage people to get vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus this year.
“No vaccine is 100 percent effective. A vaccine efficacy rate of 80 percent is very impressive and higher than what we see with influenza vaccines, for example,” said study co-author Brian Dixon, M.P.A., of Indiana University. stated in a press release. . “In short, by using real-world data from electronic health records routinely collected in the care of a wide range of people, we show that vaccination significantly reduces hospitalizations, severe illness, and death. We now know that it can be prevented.”
The study is based on data collected via electronic medical records of patients seen at 230 hospitals and 245 emergency department departments across the United States from October 2023 to April 2024. These hospitals are part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) VISION network. .
73% effective in immunocompromised adults
Among people aged 60 years who are not immunocompromised, a total of 28,271 hospitalizations due to RSV-like illness were recorded.
The authors found that RSV vaccination was 80% effective in preventing hospitalization (95% confidence interval (CI), 71% to 85%) and severe virus-related illness (intensive care unit admission, death, (or both) was found to be 81% effective. .
Among 8,435 hospitalizations due to RSV-like illness in immunocompromised adults, vaccine efficacy was 73% against related hospitalizations
The CDC estimates that there are 60,000 to 160,000 RSV-related hospitalizations and 6,000 to 10,000 RSV-related deaths among adults age 65 and older each year. Until the introduction of the RSV vaccine last year, RSV hospitalizations for this group cost between $1.2 billion and $5 billion annually.
Preventing up to 80% of hospitalizations could result in significant savings for consumers and health systems.
“Preventing up to 80% of hospitalizations could result in significant savings for consumers and the health care system,” Dixon said.
Currently, the CDC recommends that all adults age 75 and older receive the RSV vaccine annually, and if they are at risk for serious disease, such as those who are obese, have heart disease, diabetes, or are immunocompromised. recommends that adults aged 60 and older receive RSV vaccine annually.
