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Primary Submission Category: Infants/children/youth

Maternal and Pediatric RSV Vaccination Acceptance in the US During the 2023-2024 RSV Season

Authors:  Comfort Z. Olorunsaiye, Dejenaba Gordon, Khadijat Adeleye, Hannah M. Degge, Joanna Okusaga,

Presenting Author: Comfort Z. Olorunsaiye*

Objectives

Maternal and pediatric respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination is effective for preventing pediatric RSV illness. However, vaccine acceptance in the 2023-2024 RSV season was very low. This study aimed to assess the associations between awareness of RSV vaccination and vaccine acceptance by infants and pregnant women in the US.

Methods

A cross-sectional, self-administered survey was implemented in June 2024 in the US women. Eligibility criteria included identification as a woman, pregnant between June 2023 and June 2024 or parenting a child <8 months old during the same period. The main exposure was RSV awareness. The respective outcomes were maternal and pediatric RSV vaccine acceptance. Preliminary analysis of the data included descriptive and inferential statistics. The Arcadia University IRB approved the study.

Results

In preliminary analysis, among 650 women who were pregnant or parenting an infant less than 8 months old between June 2023 and June 2024, the mean participant age was 28.1 ±6 years; 39.6% completed high school or less; 48% reported a household income <$40,000; about 36% identified as Black/African American; and 28% identified as Hispanic. Six-in-ten (61.2%) of the women were aware of the RSV vaccination recommendations. Overall, 35% of women had received the maternal RSV vaccine. Of 230 infants, 55% had received the pediatric vaccination. Factors correlated with pediatric and maternal RSV acceptance (p<0.05), respectively, included awareness, maternal race, ethnicity, education, income, and insurance. In logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounding variables, maternal RSV awareness was associated with maternal and pediatric vaccine acceptance (odds ratio (OR)=2.19, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.09-7.24 and OR=1.65, 95% CI=1.02-15.22, respectively).

Conclusion

Programs to strengthen maternal and pediatric RSV vaccination must include campaigns to raise awareness about RSV illness and the benefits of vaccination in preventing severe illness in infants.