A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) suggests that directing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination efforts towards older adults with underlying health conditions is a cost-effective strategy to reduce the incidence of the disease. The study, conducted by researchers from several prominent Canadian institutions, employed a modeling approach to evaluate the economic viability of various vaccination programs targeting different age and risk groups.
RSV is a significant cause of illness, particularly among infants and older adults, with infection rates increasing with age. With vaccines now available to protect adults against RSV, vaccination campaigns hold the potential to decrease disease prevalence in older populations and reduce the associated healthcare costs.
The study’s authors developed a model to assess the cost-effectiveness of RSV vaccination programs across different age groups, with a specific focus on individuals aged 50 and older. Unlike previous studies that concentrated on those aged 60 and above, this study also considered medical risk factors alongside age. The researchers compared the effectiveness of three different vaccination strategies: age-only, medical risk-only, and a combination of both age and medical risk.
Their findings indicate that targeting vaccination programs at older adults with chronic medical conditions, which increase their vulnerability to RSV, is more likely to be cost-effective than general age-based strategies. According to Dr. Ashleigh Tuite, a co-author of the study and a researcher at the Centre for Immunization Programs at the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, “Vaccination of older adults may be less costly and more effective than no vaccination, particularly for those aged 70 years and older with chronic medical conditions.”
The research also highlights that broader vaccination strategies might be more effective in certain settings, such as remote communities in northern Canada, where the risk of disease and healthcare costs are higher.
The study was a collaborative effort by experts from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, McMaster University, the University of Ottawa, Public Health Ontario, and the Institut national de santé publique du Québec.
In a related article published in CMAJ, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) provides key recommendations for clinicians regarding RSV vaccination in older adults. The NACI advises that RSV vaccination is particularly beneficial for adults aged 75 and older, as well as those aged 60 and older who reside in nursing homes or chronic care facilities. A single dose of the RSV vaccine has been shown to offer protection for at least two respiratory virus seasons.
These findings underline the importance of targeted vaccination strategies in mitigating the impact of RSV among the most vulnerable older adults, ultimately contributing to more efficient and effective healthcare delivery.