Lancet Infect Dis

RSV vaccination during pregnancy cuts infant hospitalizations

December 10, 2025

A national population-based study from Scotland demonstrated that infants whose mothers received RSVpreF vaccine more than 14 days before delivery had an 82.2% lower adjusted risk of RSV-related lower respiratory tract infection hospitalization compared with infants of unvaccinated mothers (P< 0001), preventing an estimated 219 admissions during the study period. Effectiveness remained high across gestational ages—89.9% for preterm infants (P=.0025) and 81.5% for term infants (P<.0001). Suboptimal immunization offered no significant protection (31.7%; P=.20). Findings were consistent in a matched cohort analysis.

Clinical takeaway: Encourage vaccination from 28 weeks' gestation, ensuring administration occurs >14 days before delivery to optimize antibody transfer and infant protection during the critical first 90 days of life.

Source:

McLachlan I, et al. (2025, November 28). Lancet Infect Dis. Effectiveness of the maternal RSVpreF vaccine against severe disease in infants in Scotland, UK: a national, population-based case-control study and cohort analysis. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41325764/