Most pregnant women and newborns are now protected against RSV, but racial, insurance, and age-related disparities persist. A US study found 88% of newborns left the hospital with RSV protection, yet Black mothers had the lowest vaccination rates and White newborns received nirsevimab least often. Targeted outreach to underserved groups remains essential to close the gap.
Good news on the RSV front: the vast majority of newborns are now leaving US hospitals with some form of protection against respiratory syncytial virus. A retrospective study of 1,156 mother-infant pairs found that 88% of newborns were discharged with RSV protection — either through maternal vaccination or nirsevimab (Beyfortus). Nearly three-quarters of mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy, and 55% of eligible newborns received nirsevimab.
But the picture isn't uniform. Significant disparities emerged across race, insurance type, and age. Asian mothers had the highest vaccination uptake (85%), while Black mothers had the lowest (59%). White newborns were least likely to receive nirsevimab (47%), while Asian newborns received it most often (83%). Mothers with private insurance were more likely to be vaccinated, and religious affiliation was associated with lower uptake. Separately, a French study confirmed that RSV preventive strategies — nirsevimab and maternal vaccination — significantly reduced bronchiolitis hospitalizations, cutting median hospital stays from 5 to 3 days and oxygen therapy use from 71% to 59%.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: RSV is a leading cause of infant hospitalization, and these findings show that current preventive tools work — but only if they reach everyone. Researchers highlight the need for targeted outreach to younger, publicly insured, and minority mothers to close persistent equity gaps.
