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Updated: May 30, 2025
An Improved and High Throughput Respiratory Syncytial Virus RSV Micro-neutralization Assay
Published on: January 26, 2019
Pregnant women's choices for preventing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Bing Wang1, Zohra Lassi2, Prabha Andraweera1
1Vaccinology and Immunology Research Trials Unit, Women's and Children's Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Insights
Pregnant women in Australia prefer maternal Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination over infant antibody treatments. Key motivators include infant protection, while safety concerns and vaccine hesitancy are barriers.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Immunology
- Maternal Health
Background:
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a major cause of infant respiratory illness, with no specific treatments available.
- New preventative strategies include RSV vaccines for pregnant women and monoclonal antibodies for infants.
- Understanding uptake barriers and facilitators for these interventions is crucial for public health implementation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify barriers and facilitators to maternal RSV vaccination uptake.
- To understand pregnant women's choices regarding maternal RSV immunization programs.
- To compare preferences between maternal vaccination and infant monoclonal antibody administration.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving focus groups and online interviews with pregnant women in Australia.
- Participants were aged 18 years or older.
- Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Main Results:
- Maternal RSV vaccination was generally welcomed and preferred over infant immunization strategies.
- Key motivators included safeguarding infants and preventing severe disease.
- Barriers included vaccine safety concerns, effectiveness uncertainties, and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.
- Preferred promotion strategies involved reminders, personalized messages, and healthcare provider recommendations.
Conclusions:
- Pregnant women in the study favored maternal RSV vaccination.
- Effective program promotion requires diverse language, "nudge" reminders, and strong healthcare provider endorsement.
- Addressing safety concerns and hesitancy is vital for successful implementation.
Introduction:
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants and can lead to severe respiratory distress, especially in very young infants. No specific treatments exist for RSV. However, new preventative strategies have become available including RSV vaccine for pregnant women and monoclonal antibody for infants. This study aimed to identify and understand barriers and facilitators to the uptake of a new RSV vaccine in pregnant women and determine their underlying choices for a maternal RSV immunisation program. Additionally, the study investigated choice for maternal vaccination or administration of a long-lasting monoclonal antibody to infants.
Methods:
Eligible participants were pregnant women residing in Australia and aged 18 years or older. Focus group discussions and individual online interviews were conducted and data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach.
Results:
A total of 34 pregnant women participated in online focus group discussions or interviews, with an average age of 34 years. The identified themes were categorised into four overarching domains: 1) motivators for vaccinating during pregnancy to safeguard their babies and prevent severe diseases, 2) barriers to vaccination including vaccine safety concerns, uncertainties regarding vaccine effectiveness, and vaccine hesitancy arising from COVID-19 vaccination experiences, 3) preferred vaccination promotion strategies, including constant reminders/prompts, personalised messages, campaign focusing on serious outcomes and using diverse/lay languages, recommendations from local obstetricians and health authorities, 4) clear vaccine recommendation policies and a preference for maternal immunisation over infant immunisation.
Conclusions:
The maternal RSV vaccination was generally welcomed and preferred by pregnant women in our study comparing to other strategies. Preferences for RSV program promotion included diversity in languages, "nudge" reminders, and recommendations from healthcare providers.
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