Nirsevimab Linked to Lower Infant Hospitalization Risk Than Maternal Vaccine

First real-world comparison shows lower hospitalization and severe illness rates with infant immunization vs maternal vaccination.

By
Andrea Surnit
April 24, 2026
3 min

Conexiant

Objective:

To compare the risk of hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in infants receiving nirsevimab versus those whose mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy.

Approach:

Key Findings:

44% of hospitalizations occurred in the nirsevimab group compared to 56% in the maternal vaccination group.
Nirsevimab was associated with a 26% lower likelihood of RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection.
Severe outcomes were less prevalent in the nirsevimab group, including lower rates of PICU admission and need for ventilatory support.
The relative benefit of nirsevimab increased over time, with lower hospitalization risk observed after 30 days.

Interpretation:

Nirsevimab may provide better protection against RSV-related hospitalization and severe outcomes in infants compared to maternal vaccination, particularly beyond the first week after discharge.

Limitations:

Observational study design may include residual confounding despite matching.
Analysis reflects a single RSV season with limited follow-up.
Maternal vaccination was restricted to a specific gestational window, limiting generalizability.

Conclusion:

Both nirsevimab and maternal vaccination are effective in reducing RSV-related adverse outcomes, but nirsevimab shows lower hospitalization rates and severe outcomes in early infancy. Further studies are needed to evaluate their use.