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Published on: January 26, 2019
Pregnant women's perceptions of RSVpreF vaccine and Nirsevimab for infant RSV prevention
Tasmiah Nuzhath1, Namanjaya Khobragade2, Annette K Regan3
1The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States of America.
Insights
Maternal perceptions of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunization are influenced by disease risk, vaccine benefits, and healthcare provider recommendations. Addressing hesitancy requires clear information on safety, effectiveness, and access, alongside trusted narratives.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Vaccinology
- Maternal Health
Background:
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of infant hospitalization.
- New immunization options, including RSVpreF vaccine for pregnant women and nirsevimab for infants, were introduced in 2023.
- Understanding public perceptions is crucial for improving immunization uptake.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate maternal attitudes and intentions regarding RSV immunization.
- To identify factors motivating and hindering RSV vaccine uptake among pregnant women.
- To inform targeted health strategies for enhancing RSV immunization coverage.
Main Methods:
- Nationally representative web-based surveys of pregnant women (N=414) conducted in two waves (Sept 2023, May 2024).
- Thematic analysis of pooled survey data to identify key themes and sub-themes.
- Quantitative assessment of immunization attitudes and intentions.
Main Results:
- Key motivators for immunization include perceived disease risks, recognized benefits, and recommendations from healthcare professionals and the CDC.
- Hesitancy factors include insufficient information, low perceived risk, mistrust of new vaccines, limited RSVpreF availability, and safety concerns.
- Information needs for hesitant individuals involve parent narratives, research evidence on safety/effectiveness, and product access details.
- Trusted information sources are healthcare providers, family/relatives, and research.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare provider engagement is vital for improving pregnant women's knowledge and awareness of RSV immunization.
- Utilizing vaccine narratives can enhance confidence and promote RSV immunization uptake.
- Targeted strategies should address specific concerns and leverage trusted information channels.
Background:
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of infant hospitalization. Following the introduction of a prefusion F protein vaccine (RSVpreF) for pregnant women and a monoclonal antibody (nirsevimab) for infants aged <8 months in 2023, we aimed to understand public perceptions about RSV immunization to inform targeted health strategies to improve uptake.
Methods:
We conducted two nationally representative web-based surveys of pregnant women to understand maternal RSV immunization attitudes and intentions (Wave 1: 9/20/2023-10/3/2023; N = 198; Wave 2: 5/24/2024-6/14/2024; N = 216). We used thematic analysis to identify themes and sub-themes in pooled data across both waves (N = 414).
Results:
Motivators for immunization included concerns about the disease's risks, recognized benefits of immunization, and recommendations by healthcare professionals and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Participants reported hesitation to immunize due to insufficient immunization information, low perceived disease risk, lack of trust in vaccine due to product novelty and vaccine-makers, limited availability of RSVpreF vaccine, and concerns about vaccine safety and potential side effects. Individuals who reported hesitancy shared that information needed to encourage immunization should include narratives from parents who chose immunization, research, and evidence underscoring the effectiveness and safety of the immunization, and information about access and availability of the products. Trusted sources of immunization information among all participants included (1) healthcare providers, (2) family/relatives, and (3) research.
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that efforts to promote RSV immunization should focus on engaging healthcare providers to improve pregnant women's knowledge and awareness related to RSV and using vaccine narratives to build confidence in RSV immunization.
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