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Study Reveals Low RSV Knowledge and Vaccine Uptake Among Hospitalized Older Adults
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Key Takeaways
- RSV vaccination is recommended for adults 75+ and those 60-74 at increased risk, per CDC guidelines.
- A study found 89.6% of hospitalized adults 60+ were unvaccinated, with many unaware of RSV or vaccine eligibility.
A significant portion of unvaccinated individuals were open to future vaccination.
Knowledge about respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and vaccine eligibility was limited among hospitalized adults, according to findings published by investigators in JAMA Network Open. Despite this, a significant portion of unvaccinated patients expressed openness to future vaccination, suggesting potential for improved RSV prevention, especially for older adults.1
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According to the CDC, RSV can cause severe outcomes among older adults, especially those with certain medical conditions or who live in a nursing home.2 The CDC currently recommends a single dose of any of the FDA-approved RSV vaccines—RSVPreF3 (Arexvy; GSK), RSVpreF (Abrysvo; Pfizer), and mRNA-1345 (mRESVIA; Moderna)—for all adults 75 years and older, along with individuals aged 60 to 74 years who are at increased risk of severe illness.3
The study authors noted that the updated vaccination guidelines recommending vaccination for all adults 75 years and older and those between 60 and 74 years with a higher risk of RSV is a simplification of prior recommendations.1
Previously conducted national surveys from the 2023-2024 RSV season indicated that about 24% of US adults aged 60 years and older received an RSV vaccine. However, the study authors noted that there is limited data on which specific individuals within this age group were more likely to receive a vaccination.1
To further understand what aids or hinders RSV vaccine acceptance, researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from a multicenter surveillance network, Investigating Respiratory Viruses in the Acutely Ill (IVY), that assessed individuals hospitalized with acute respiratory illness (ARI) from 26 US hospitals in 20 states.1
A total of 6746 hospitalized individuals 60 years and older were included in the analysis, with the median age of 73 years. Demographic and clinical information was collected from patient interviews and electronic medical records. Additionally, the study authors noted individuals’ addresses were converted into geocodes to determine the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) for each individual.1
Among the 6566 individuals who reported their race and ethnicity, 10.6% were Hispanic, 19.5% were non-Hispanic Black, 65.1% were non-Hispanic White, and 4.7% identified as other race and ethnicity. Of the total study population, 10.4% (700) had received an RSV vaccine, while the vast majority, 89.6% (6046), were unvaccinated.1
The results demonstrated that among the 3219 unvaccinated individuals surveyed about RSV knowledge, 47.2% (1519 individuals) had either never heard of RSV or were uncertain about it, and 78.5% (2525 out of 3218) were unsure or believed they were ineligible for the RSV vaccine. Adjusted analyses revealed that being 75 years or older (adjusted risk ratio [ARR], 1.23), male (ARR, 1.15), having pulmonary disease (ARR, 1.39) or immunocompromised status (ARR, 1.30), residing in areas with low or moderate SVI (ARR, 1.47 for both), and having more years of education were associated with a higher likelihood of RSV vaccination. However, further results revealed that RSV vaccination was less common among residents of long-term care facilities, those with Medicaid, and uninsured individuals.1
The findings suggest that continuing to track vaccination rates in future seasons to examine if simpler guidelines, along with increased public awareness and better access to preventative care, will result in higher vaccination rates among older adults at risk of severe RSV.1
