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.
Keywords: Acceptability; bronchiolitis; childhood vaccination; immunization; information needs; monoclonal antibodies; parents/parental; respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
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.