A new U.S. cohort study highlights that children and adolescents who were not eligible for RSV immunization still represented a considerable share of severe RSV cases, including ICU admissions and deaths, in recent years. The findings suggest that current eligibility criteria for RSV immunization may leave some high-risk groups unprotected.
The study specifically looked at RSV-associated ICU admissions and deaths among children and adolescents, flagging that those ineligible for immunization accounted for a substantial proportion of these severe outcomes. While the source does not provide specific numbers or the exact eligibility rules, the study's authors underscore this as an important gap.
The results point to a need to evaluate whether immunization guidelines should be broadened to better protect children who are currently left out of eligibility criteria. Further research would be needed to determine which groups might benefit from expanded access.