A new review of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunisation products has evaluated the effectiveness and safety of RSV immunisation programmes in real world settings. The global review, published in Thorax and led by Usher’s Senior Lecturer, Ting Shi, in collaboration with researchers from multiple institutions, analysed data on nirsevimab for infants, RSV vaccines for pregnant women and older adults.The team conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 50 population-based reports worldwide, covering approximately 7.6 million people. The review found that nirsevimab demonstrated between 75.6% to 80.7% effectiveness against RSV related emergency department visits, hospital admissions and intensive care unit admissions, with a favourable safety profile. RSV vaccines for older adults showed 79.6% effectiveness against RSV related hospital admissions, with fewer than 10 Guillain-Barré syndrome cases reported per million doses, although the evidence was limited. However, no effectiveness data were yet available for the RSV maternal vaccine by the date of search (10th March 2025). The safety data on RSV vaccines in pregnant women remain limited, several studies suggested favourable safety profiles. Our real-world effectiveness and safety analysis of RSV immunisation products is of particular interest in the context of nirsevimab roll-out for preterm and vulnerable infants in the UK. I hope more vulnerable populations will be protected by the effective immunisation and we are looking at a quieter winter! Dr Ting Shi Senior Lecturer, Usher Institute This first global review confirms the real-world effectiveness and safety of nirsevimab and RSV vaccines for older adults, while emphasising the need for more evidence on RSV maternal vaccine and the importance of ongoing monitoring of effectiveness and safety to inform guidelines, support public health agencies and clinical decision-making, and build public confidence in immunisation programmes.Further informationReal-world effectiveness and safety of nirsevimab, RSV maternal vaccine and RSV vaccines for older adults: a living systematic review and meta-analysis | Thorax Publication date 17 Sep, 2025
