Challenges to promoting maternal respiratory syncytial virus vaccination in Japan

Emiko Oka; Yutaka Ueda; Asami Yagi; Masaki Machida; Yuki Furuse; Takahiro Tabuchi

doi:10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.126767

Challenges to promoting maternal respiratory syncytial virus vaccination in Japan

Vaccine. 2025 Feb 27:48:126767. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.126767. Epub 2025 Jan 22.

Authors

Emiko Oka¹, Yutaka Ueda², Asami Yagi¹, Masaki Machida³, Yuki Furuse⁴, Takahiro Tabuchi⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
² Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. Electronic address: y.ueda@gyne.med.osaka-u.ac.jp.
³ Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Japan.
⁴ Department of Microbiology and Infection, Pandemic Preparedness, Infection and Advanced Research Center, The University of Tokyo, Japan.
⁵ Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.

PMID: 39848132
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2025.126767

Abstract

Pfizer's Abrysvo vaccine is highly effective in preventing severe lower respiratory tract illness in those at high risk from the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Japan, like other countries, is promoting RSV vaccination among pregnant women, but it needs to do better. However, Japan is enduring a state of broad vaccine hesitancy. In light of our experiences with Japan's past failures in promoting the Human Papillomavirus vaccine, we describe some of the challenges encountered in promoting vaccines and discuss possible solutions.

Keywords: Maternal vaccination; Promotion of vaccination; Respiratory syncytial virus.

MeSH terms

Female
Humans
Japan / epidemiology
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious* / prevention & control
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections* / prevention & control
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines* / administration & dosage
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines* / immunology
Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Human / immunology
Vaccination Hesitancy
Vaccination* / statistics & numerical data

Substances

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines