Parental knowledge about respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and attitudes to infant immunization with monoclonal antibodies

ABSTRACT

Background

Ninety percent of children are infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) within their first two years of life. RSV is the main cause behind hospitalization of infants with lower respiratory tract infections. A new monoclonal antibody (mAb) immunization may prevent RSV in all infants. This cross-national study aimed to examine parental knowledge about RSV and attitudes to such RSV immunization.

Research design and methods

Based on a literature study, a questionnaire was designed and applied in a survey carried out in China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK, and the US. Eligible respondents were expecting their first baby or parents of children <24 months old who were open to vaccination.

Results

Parental acceptance of immunizations relies on perceptions of the preventable disease. In 5627 parents, only 35% reported basic or good level of knowledge about RSV. Recommendation from health care professionals and inclusion in immunization programs were crucial to their acceptance of RSV immunization. If recommended and informed about its efficacy and safety, most parents would accept RSV mAb immunization for their infants.

Conclusions

Infant RSV infections are highly prevalent, yet parental awareness of RSV is poor. Country variations call for targeted communication about RSV and immunization.

Plain Language Summary

Almost all children (90%) are infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) before the age of two. Most cases of RSV are mild, but RSV remains the main cause behind hospitalization of infants with lung infections, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia. A new immunization with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) is currently being developed to prevent RSV in infants. While traditional vaccines act to mobilize a person’s own production of antibodies to fight a virus, immunization with mAbs means that antibodies are given directly. We know that parents’ attitudes to childhood vaccination depend on their views on childhood diseases and vaccination in general. Therefore, we wanted to examine what parents know about RSV. How widespread and severe do parents think RSV infection is? Would they like their infants to receive RSV immunization? To answer these questions, we carried out a survey in eight Western and Asian countries. More than 5000 people who were either expecting their first baby or already parents of under two-year-olds answered the questionnaire. Their responses showed that awareness of RSV was poor as two-thirds of parents had never heard of RSV or knew only the name. Once exposed to information about a hypothetical immunization against RSV disease, the immunization was considered beneficial; however, recommendation from health care professionals and inclusion in immunization programs were crucial to the parents’ ultimate acceptance of RSV immunization. If recommended and well informed about its safety and efficacy, most parents would accept mAb immunization against RSV for their infants.

KEYWORDS:

• Acceptability
• bronchiolitis
• immunization
• information needs
• monoclonal antibodies
• parents/parental
• respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• childhood vaccination

Declaration of interest

GL Mortensen received funding from Sanofi for her contribution to the study, including the methodological design, data analysis, and manuscript writing. GLM received honoraria from Sanofi for participating in an online EU Nirsevimab advisory board, Oct-Nov. 2021. K Harrod-Lui is an employee of Sanofi. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Geolocation information

The study was carried out in China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK, and the US (in alphabetical order).

Author contributions

Both authors substantially contributed to the conception, design, analysis, and manuscript reporting of the results of the study.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/14760584.2022.2108799

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank all the current and expecting parents who took time to participate. From Research Partnership, who oversaw the data collection and contributed to the survey design, we are indebted to Mark Braund, Beth Clark, Alicia Crawley, and Lauren Craigen. Finally, we wish to thank MD Michelle Roberts, Vaccines Global Medical Lead RSV, Sanofi for sharing her knowledge about RSV and related disease.

Additional information

Funding

This manuscript was funded by Sanofi.