An Australian observational study presented on October 30, 2026, at the Congress of the European Paediatric Academic Societies (CEPAS) in Lyon, France, found that a hybrid respiratory syncytial virus immunization program targeting both mothers and infants is associated with substantial reductions in hospitalizations, respiratory support needs, and healthcare costs.
Canberra Health Services Data Shows Fewer Hospitalizations
Researchers tracked infants and laboratory-confirmed RSV and/or those who had received nirsevimab. Nicola Irwin of Canberra Health Services stated that the initiative kept many infants out of the hospital and eased system pressure.
Coverage reached approximately 78% of pregnant women and just over 10% of infants. Breakthrough infections occurred in 1.5% of infants who received nirsevimab, with 0.7% admitted to a hospital ward or ICU. Emergency department presentations and hospitalizations also saw significant reductions.
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control Models Universal Protection
Parallel European analyses evaluated similar preventive strategies. Bruno Ciancio, head of unit at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, noted that universal newborn immunization can reduce hospital admission risks by more than half. ECDC models calculated that reaching 90% coverage with long-acting monoclonal antibodies could avoid 61% of RSV hospitalizations in the first two months of life, while systematic maternal vaccination would reduce admissions by 52%.
Regulatory approvals across Europe have expanded the available toolkit. The European Union authorized the monoclonal antibody nirsevimab (Beyfortus, AstraZeneca/Sanofi) in October 2022 for children up to 24 months, followed by clesrovimab (Enflonsia, MSD) in June 2026 for newborns in their first RSV season. A maternal RSV vaccine (Abrysvo, Pfizer) was authorized in June 2023 for use between 24 and 36 weeks of gestation.
Real-world data compiled across multiple countries reinforce these clinical findings. A systematic review published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe analyzed real-world studies and found that maternal RSV vaccines reduced a baby’s risk of hospitalization for lower respiratory tract infections by 73.6%. Separate national studies recorded a 62.6% drop in bronchiolitis admissions for infants under 3 months in England between September 2024 and March 2026, and a 33.6% reduction in Buenos Aires hospitals following the introduction of maternal vaccination in 2024.
Vaccine Acceptance Barriers and Medical Skepticism Highlighted at CEPAS
Despite clinical efficacy, experts at CEPAS 2026 warned that access barriers and vaccine hesitancy remain major hurdles. Hans Jürgen Dornbusch of the Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology at the Medical University of Graz in Austria identified two interacting groups of barriers: access issues such as missed opportunities for routine vaccination, rural or underserved settings, and insufficient follow-up and reminder/recall systems.
Frequently Asked Questions About RSV Immunization Programs
What is the recommended gestational window for maternal RSV vaccination?
European authorizations permit administration between 24 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.
How much did hospital stays and ICU admissions decrease during the 2025 hybrid season?
The median length of hospital stay dropped from 2.7 days to 1.8 days, and the proportion of hospitalized infants admitted to the ICU fell from 6.2% to 2.4%.
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