KAHLO

Evaluating the real-world impact of maternal RSV vaccination on RSV outcomes among infants and children in Scotland.

Summary

Globally, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) contributes to over 3.6 million hospitalisations and approximately 100,000 deaths in children younger than five years old (World Health Organisation). Two classes of immunisation products which help to reduce RSV-related morbidity and mortality in infants are now available in the UK, long-acting monoclonal antibodies given to infants (nirsevimab and cleserovimab), and recently maternal RSV vaccine, RSVpreF.

The maternal RSV immunisation programme began in Scotland in August 2024 and offers the maternal RSV vaccine to pregnant individuals from 28 weeks gestation. The KAHLO project will evaluate the real-world effectiveness and impact of the maternal RSV vaccine, by exploring the short and long-term RSV outcomes among infants and children. These objectives will be addressed through analysis of routinely collected administrative health data in Scotland, with a comparative study also taking place in Australia.

The full title of this project is: KAHLO | Multi-country networK evaluation of the effectiveness and impact of mAternal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination on sHort and Long-term RSV Outcomes among infants and children.

Partners and Funders

Pfizer is the sponsor and sole funder of this study.

Key People

NameRoles
Ting ShiPrincipal Investigator, Senior Lecturer
Catriona GrahamLead Statistician
Tsz-Yan Milly LoConsultant Paediatric Intensivist, University of Edinburgh & Royal Hospital for Children and Young People
Emily BallPostdoctoral Fellow

Ting Shi

Contact details

Key Publications

Publications from this project can be found on the Principal Investigator's Edinburgh Research Explorer page.

Key Collaborations

This project is being delivered in partnership with colleagues from the UNSW, Sydney and Pfizer, Inc.

NameRole
Nusrat HomairaAssociate Professor and Paediatric Respiratory Epidemiologist, UNSW
Nan HuLead Statistician, UNSW
Fekede KumsaPostdoctoral Fellow, UNSW
Adam JaffeProfessor and Paediatric Respiratory Consultant, UNSW
Kishor Kumar PaulInfectious Disease Epidemiologist and Modeler, UNSW
Rama KandasamyPaediatric Infectious Disease Consultant, University of Sydney
Jen DeeseSr. Director, Real-World Evidence & Epidemiology Scientist, Maternal RSV Vaccines, Pfizer, Inc. | Medical Evidence Generation, Chief Medical Office
Divya PatelDirector, Clinical Scientist, Medical Evidence Science & Operations, Pfizer, Inc. | Chief Medical Office

Project Timeline

January 2026 – December 2030

Themes and Keywords

Scientific Themes

Pregnancy; Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV); Vaccination; Respiratory disease; Infectious disease

Methodology Keywords

Epidemiology; Healthcare research; Data linkage

PP-UNP-GBR-15659

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