Maternal RSV Vaccination Protects Infants Against RSV Hospitalization

Maternal vaccination with the bivalent respiratory syncytial virus prefusion F protein vaccine (RSVpreF; Abrysvo, Pfizer)  was associated with strong protection against RSV-related lower respiratory tract infection hospitalization during infants’ first 6 months, a systematic review and meta-analysis found.

The analysis included seven real-world studies comprising 7,112 infants, including 2,684 born to vaccinated mothers. The studies evaluated infants born to vaccinated and unvaccinated pregnant individuals and focused on hospitalization for RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection.

When vaccination occurred at least 14 days before delivery, pooled vaccine effectiveness against RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection hospitalization was 82% during infants’ first 3 months and 78% during their first 6 months. The findings extend evidence from the pivotal clinical trial into postimplementation settings.

Limited available data prevented the researchers from conducting meta-analyses of effectiveness against RSV-associated emergency department visits, intensive care unit admissions, and death. The findings therefore apply specifically to hospitalization for RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection.

The results support maternal RSVpreF vaccination as a strategy to protect infants during their first months of life. The authors said the findings also support incorporating RSVpreF vaccination into routine antenatal immunization programs.

Source: Batool R, Wang R, Obeid H, et al. RSV bivalent prefusion F protein vaccine in pregnancy and protection against RSV-associated illness in infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatr. Published online September 8, 2026. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2026.4074