Maternal RSV Vaccine Cuts Infant Hospitalization

A large-scale real-world study, presented at ESCMID Global 2026, has demonstrated that maternal vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) significantly reduces the risk of hospitalization in young infants by over 80% when administered at least two weeks before birth. The study, conducted by the United Kingdom===UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and led by epidemiologist Matthew Wilson, analyzed data from nearly 290,000 infants in England, where a national maternal RSV vaccination program was introduced in September 2024. The findings show a clear relationship between vaccination timing and protection, with effectiveness reaching close to 85% when vaccination occurs at least four weeks before delivery. The study also found good levels of protection in preterm infants, who are particularly vulnerable to severe RSV infection. These results underscore the potential for wider global rollout of maternal RSV vaccination, aligning with World Health Organization recommendations, and could have a substantial impact on infant mortality rates, especially in low- and middle-income countries.