Parent Perspectives on Nirsevimab for Their Newborn

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prevention, was approved for infants in 2023.
• Bronchiolitis, a common pediatric hospitalization cause, can be prevented by RSV prophylaxis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore parental responses to nirsevimab recommendations for newborns.
• To understand factors influencing nirsevimab decision-making in parents of healthy infants.

Main Methods:

• Semistructured interviews with parents of newborns (November 2023 - February 2024).
• Thematic analysis using the Health Beliefs Model to identify decision-making factors.

Main Results:

• Parental nirsevimab uptake intentions were divided: 38% planned to use it, 25% did not, and 38% were unsure.
• Key themes included knowledge gaps about RSV prophylaxis, trust in pediatricians, fear of RSV, concerns about side effects, and misinformation linking nirsevimab to COVID-19 vaccines.
• The Health Beliefs Model identified opportunities to improve decision-making regarding perceived susceptibility, disease severity, benefits, barriers, and cues to action.

Conclusions:

• Enhancing awareness of nirsevimab and RSV is crucial for infant protection.
• Initiating discussions during pregnancy can combat misinformation and foster informed decisions.
• Leveraging trust in pediatricians and prenatal clinicians can improve nirsevimab uptake.