Pregnant Women Generally Prefer Maternal RSV Vaccine to Infant Injections
The main motivations for preferring vaccination included previous experience with an RSV infection and desire to protect the baby.
The majority of pregnant women in a recent survey said that they prefer a maternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine over other strategies like infant injections, according to new data published in the journal Vaccine.1 The study also showed that sending nudge reminders, using multiple communication platforms, and ensuring easy access to vaccines could help increase uptake among pregnant patients.
Pregnant Women Generally Prefer Maternal RSV Vaccine to Infant Injections / Anna - stock.adobe.com
In the United States, between 58000 and 80000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized with RSV each year, making it the leading cause of infant hospitalization.2 There are currently 2 ways to protect infants from RSV, a maternal vaccine and an infant antibody injection. The CDC recommends that all babies be protected by 1 of these options.
READ MORE: Minority Groups Spent More on Maternity Care Than White Patients
“Achieving high vaccine uptake with a new maternal vaccine program always presents significant challenges,” the authors wrote. “Vaccine hesitancy is an already known phenomenon in pregnant women. Unfortunately, there has been an increase in vaccine misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic which has impacted vaccinations among the most vulnerable populations.”
Investigators conducted a study in order to identify and understand barriers and facilitators to the uptake of an RSV vaccine in pregnant women. Data for the study was collected from a round of 8 focus groups and 2 individual interviews that were conducted between December 2023 and April 2024. The focus groups and interviews were done remotely and lasted 30 to 45 minutes. The questions focused on concerns and preferences regarding RSV immunization programs and potential vaccine promotion strategies.
The study cohort included 34 pregnant women 18 years of age or older. The study found that 28 of the women said they were willing to receive an RSV vaccine during pregnancy. Of the women who were not willing, 5 said they preferred a “wait and see” approach and 1 said that they did not trust the vaccine. The main motivations for being willing to receive the RSV vaccine included previous experience with an RSV infection, desire to protect the baby, and being vulnerable to infection during pregnancy.
Potential barriers to receiving an RSV vaccine raised by the women included safety concerns, duration of vaccine protection, hesitancy due to the impact of COVID-19 vaccine perceptions, and having a preference for more evidence and information about the vaccine.
For vaccine promotion strategies, the women said that making vaccination easy for pregnant women by incorporating it into routine antenatal services and sending frequent, personalized reminders would make them more likely to receive it. Additional strategies to increase uptake included making the vaccines available at pharmacies, having early discussions with health care providers, promoting through social media and offering incentives such as small gifts.
Additionally, the women said that they would prefer maternal RSV vaccination over infant immunization if the maternal vaccine had similar efficacy and safety. Reasons given for preferring the maternal vaccine included protecting newborns with fewer invasive procedures and less discomfort.
“Addressing safety concerns, duration of protection, and costs while providing clear, evidence-based information will be essential for any RSV prevention programs,” the authors wrote. “Nudges such as incorporating the vaccine into routine antenatal care, sending reminders, ensuring easy access, and using multiple communication platforms will likely enhance vaccine uptake. Government endorsement could further support successful immunization efforts.”
READ MORE: Women's Health Resource Center
Are you ready to elevate your pharmacy practice? Sign up today for our free Drug Topics newsletter and get the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips, straight to your inbox.
