Given the significant morbidity associated with infantile respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and the fact that there are now available passive immunizations for this illness, it is paramount to determine how to get as many immunizations in arms as safely and quickly as possible.
The timely article by Dr. Jennifer Saper and colleagues at Northwestern University and Nemours Children’s Health, entitled “RSV Vaccination Intention Among People Who Are or Plan to Become Pregnant,” sheds light on factors associated with increased consideration of RSV immunization among a nationwide sample of people who are (or are planning to become) pregnant (10.1542/peds.2023-065140).
At baseline, the authors point out that only approximately half of eligible pregnant people obtain the recommended influenza and Tdap immunizations. Understanding what motivates people to consider obtaining immunizations is one piece in helping us improve public health.
In this cross-sectional, online survey (conducted in March 2023 in English and Spanish), 1528 responses from people 18–45 years of age were obtained in a sample that had an overrepresentation of participants from the geographic south. It should be noted that the survey was administered while FDA approval for the RSV immunization for patients who are pregnant was still pending. The authors asked respondents about their:
- Perception of the seriousness of RSV infections for children,
- Estimate of how likely (less versus very) it was that their child would get an RSV infection as an infant, and
- Estimate of how likely they were to get themselves immunized against RSV.
Participant perception about seriousness of an RSV infection was the strongest predictor of a person’s willingness to obtain an immunization against RSV infection. Additionally, people who had received a Tdap and/or influenza immunization during past pregnancies were more willing to obtain the RSV immunization. Interestingly, Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native participants and those on Medicaid were also more likely to consider obtaining the RSV immunization.
While we are living in a climate of societal speculation about the utility and safety of immunizations, it comes as a breath of fresh air to get a sense of the factors that make it more likely that people will obtain an immunization. Future, prospective studies (e.g., how many parents actually obtained the RSV immunization) will be helpful in our collective quest to ensure that all people are protected against immunization-preventable morbidity and mortality.
