European pregnant women show openness to maternal RSV vaccination

The majority of European women who are pregnant or trying to conceive are open to RSV vaccination, with most preferring maternal immunisation. 

Dr Amy Law (Pfizer, NY, USA) presented the results from a cross-sectional, online survey conducted between November and December 2024 among adult women who were pregnant, trying to conceive, or had been pregnant within the past year. The survey included participants from multiple European countries, including Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. Overall, 740 women responded: 55% were pregnant, 30% were trying to conceive, and 15% had been pregnant within the prior year [1]. 

Only 45% of participants reported familiarity with RSV, but a majority (68%) indicated that they would likely initiate conversations about vaccination with their healthcare provider. If a healthcare provider proposed RSV vaccination, 76% stated they would be very likely or likely to accept immunisation. Maternal immunisation was the preferred method (52%), followed by newborn immunisation (24%) and no preference (17%). Only 7% were not open to RSV vaccination.  

When asked which factors would influence their decision on maternal RSV vaccination, the most common responses were vaccine safety (65%), efficacy (51%), immediate protection from birth (40%), and healthcare provider recommendation (37%). 

In conclusion, a high percentage of women was open to RSV vaccination, with a clear preference for maternal vaccination over newborn immunisation, indicating strong potential for uptake if offered. The most important drivers of acceptance were safety, efficacy, and immediate protection from birth. “Healthcare professionals can play a critical role in maternal RSV vaccine acceptance through proactive conversations with pregnant women about RSV and available immunisation options,” the authors concluded. 

1. Mendes D, et al. What form of RSV protection do pregnant women prefer: maternal vaccination or newborn immunisation? A cross-sectional study in Europe. 6th ESCMID Conference on Vaccines, 10–13 September 2025, Lisbon, Portugal. 

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Posted on 21 October 2025