The evolving landscape of RSV immunization: Current policies and practices across Europe

PIPELINE National Coordinators; Eugene Dempsey

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128222

The evolving landscape of RSV immunization: Current policies and practices across Europe

PIPELINE National Coordinators
, Eugene Dempsey

University Medical Centre Utrecht
European Clinical Research Alliance on Infectious Diseases (Ecraid)
ReSViNET Foundation
Fondazione Penta ETS
Stenden University, The Netherlands

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Following approval of the first Maternal RSV vaccine (MV) and long-acting monoclonal RSV antibody (la-mAbs) in Europe, several countries have begun integrating the products into their infant RSV immunization programs.

METHODS: Based on a survey supplemented by policy documents, this paper provides a descriptive, policy-focused cross-sectional overview of RSV immunization strategies across 32 European countries.

RESULTS: As of September 2025, 22 countries offered programmatic RSV prophylaxis for infants. Of these, 5 use only MV, 10 use only la-mAbs and 7 countries offer both. Considerable variation was observed in programmatic approaches with respect to (gestational) age of administration, delivery pathways, eligibility criteria for mothers and infants, and reimbursement mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS: The RSV immunization policy landscape in Europe is diverse and dynamic, presenting both challenges and opportunities for shared learning and policy development.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	128222
Journal	Vaccine
Volume	76
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128222
Publication status	Published - 19 Mar 2026

Keywords

Humans
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/prevention & control
Europe/epidemiology
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines/administration & dosage
Cross-Sectional Studies
Infant
Health Policy
Immunization Programs
Female
Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human/immunology
Immunization
Antibodies, Monoclonal/administration & dosage
Vaccination

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10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128222

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title = "The evolving landscape of RSV immunization: Current policies and practices across Europe",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Following approval of the first Maternal RSV vaccine (MV) and long-acting monoclonal RSV antibody (la-mAbs) in Europe, several countries have begun integrating the products into their infant RSV immunization programs.METHODS: Based on a survey supplemented by policy documents, this paper provides a descriptive, policy-focused cross-sectional overview of RSV immunization strategies across 32 European countries.RESULTS: As of September 2025, 22 countries offered programmatic RSV prophylaxis for infants. Of these, 5 use only MV, 10 use only la-mAbs and 7 countries offer both. Considerable variation was observed in programmatic approaches with respect to (gestational) age of administration, delivery pathways, eligibility criteria for mothers and infants, and reimbursement mechanisms.CONCLUSIONS: The RSV immunization policy landscape in Europe is diverse and dynamic, presenting both challenges and opportunities for shared learning and policy development.",

keywords = "Humans, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/prevention \& control, Europe/epidemiology, Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines/administration \& dosage, Cross-Sectional Studies, Infant, Health Policy, Immunization Programs, Female, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human/immunology, Immunization, Antibodies, Monoclonal/administration \& dosage, Vaccination",

author = "\{PIPELINE National Coordinators\} and Zazie Franck and Sanne Hofstraat and Lotte Jonker and Leyla Kragten and Chiara Messina and Fernandes, \{Ricardo M\} and Patricia Bruijning-Verhagen and Eugene Dempsey",

year = "2026",

month = mar,

day = "19",

doi = "10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128222",

language = "English",

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journal = "Vaccine",

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T1 - The evolving landscape of RSV immunization

T2 - Current policies and practices across Europe

AU - PIPELINE National Coordinators

AU - Franck, Zazie

AU - Hofstraat, Sanne

AU - Jonker, Lotte

AU - Kragten, Leyla

AU - Messina, Chiara

AU - Fernandes, Ricardo M

AU - Bruijning-Verhagen, Patricia

AU - Dempsey, Eugene

PY - 2026/3/19

Y1 - 2026/3/19

N2 - BACKGROUND: Following approval of the first Maternal RSV vaccine (MV) and long-acting monoclonal RSV antibody (la-mAbs) in Europe, several countries have begun integrating the products into their infant RSV immunization programs.METHODS: Based on a survey supplemented by policy documents, this paper provides a descriptive, policy-focused cross-sectional overview of RSV immunization strategies across 32 European countries.RESULTS: As of September 2025, 22 countries offered programmatic RSV prophylaxis for infants. Of these, 5 use only MV, 10 use only la-mAbs and 7 countries offer both. Considerable variation was observed in programmatic approaches with respect to (gestational) age of administration, delivery pathways, eligibility criteria for mothers and infants, and reimbursement mechanisms.CONCLUSIONS: The RSV immunization policy landscape in Europe is diverse and dynamic, presenting both challenges and opportunities for shared learning and policy development.

AB - BACKGROUND: Following approval of the first Maternal RSV vaccine (MV) and long-acting monoclonal RSV antibody (la-mAbs) in Europe, several countries have begun integrating the products into their infant RSV immunization programs.METHODS: Based on a survey supplemented by policy documents, this paper provides a descriptive, policy-focused cross-sectional overview of RSV immunization strategies across 32 European countries.RESULTS: As of September 2025, 22 countries offered programmatic RSV prophylaxis for infants. Of these, 5 use only MV, 10 use only la-mAbs and 7 countries offer both. Considerable variation was observed in programmatic approaches with respect to (gestational) age of administration, delivery pathways, eligibility criteria for mothers and infants, and reimbursement mechanisms.CONCLUSIONS: The RSV immunization policy landscape in Europe is diverse and dynamic, presenting both challenges and opportunities for shared learning and policy development.

KW - Humans

KW - Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/prevention & control

KW - Europe/epidemiology

KW - Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines/administration & dosage

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Infant

KW - Health Policy

KW - Immunization Programs

KW - Female

KW - Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human/immunology

KW - Immunization

KW - Antibodies, Monoclonal/administration & dosage

KW - Vaccination

U2 - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128222

DO - 10.1016/j.vaccine.2026.128222

M3 - Article

C2 - 41690867

SN - 0264-410X

VL - 76

SP - 128222

JO - Vaccine

JF - Vaccine

ER -

The evolving landscape of RSV immunization: Current policies and practices across Europe

Abstract

Keywords

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