Reducing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalization in a lower-income country by vaccinating mothers-to-be and their households.

Brand, Samuel P. C.; Munywoki, Patrick; Walumbe, David; Keeling, Matthew J.; Nokes, David James

Respiratory syncytial virus is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection among infants. RSV is a priority for vaccine development. In this study, we investigate the potential effectiveness of a two-vaccine strategy aimed at mothers-to-be, thereby boosting maternally acquired antibodies of infants, and their household cohabitants, further cocooning infants against infection. We use a dynamic RSV transmission model which captures transmission both within households and communities, adapted to the changing demographics and RSV seasonality of a lowincome country. Model parameters were inferred from past RSV hospitalisations, and forecasts made over a 10-year horizon. We find that a 50% reduction in RSV hospitalisations is possible if the maternal vaccine effectiveness can achieve 75 days of additional protection for newborns combined with a 75% coverage of their birth household co-inhabitants (~7.5% population coverage).

RESPIRATORY syncytial virus; HOUSEHOLDS; MATERNALLY acquired immunity; VACCINATION; RESPIRATORY infections; VACCINE effectiveness; INFANTS

eLife, 2020, p1

2050-084X

Academic Journal

10.7554/eLife.47003