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National RSV immunization programs using nirsevimab or maternal vaccination are delivering major reductions in infant hospitalizations across Europe. Spain saw the biggest drop — nearly 67% — while the UK and Netherlands also posted significant declines. But a separate study flags wide variation in how countries protect preterm infants, who face the highest risk.
National RSV immunization programs are proving their worth in the real world. Two European studies presented at CEPAS 2026 show that programs using nirsevimab (a long-acting monoclonal antibody) or maternal RSV vaccination are driving substantial drops in infant hospitalizations — but the way countries implement these programs varies considerably, leaving some of the most vulnerable infants underprotected.
Spain, which introduced universal nirsevimab coverage in autumn 2023, led the pack with a 66.9% average reduction in RSV-related lower respiratory tract infection hospitalizations in infants aged 0–12 months. The UK and Netherlands also saw meaningful declines after rolling out their own programs. A second study mapping strategies across 11 European countries found stark inconsistencies in how preterm infants — who face up to a 10-fold higher risk of severe RSV — are covered, with protection beyond infancy particularly limited.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: RSV is a leading cause of infant hospitalization worldwide. These findings confirm that immunization programs work — but inconsistent rollout, especially for high-risk preterm babies, means many children are still falling through the cracks. Experts point to politics and policy, not science, as the main barrier to closing the gap.
