We updated a previous economic analysis to show that palivizumab prophylaxis is cost-effective in preventing severe RSV infection requiring hospital admission in a wider population than currently recommended in UK guidelines issued by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

Prophylaxis in premature infants born <29 weeks gestational age (wGA), 29-32 wGA and 33-35 wGA without CHD or BPD aged <6 months at the start of the RSV season is not funded under current guidance, however, our analysis showed that prophylaxis is cost-effective in these populations.

This is important as these vulnerable premature infants are more likely to have severe disease and require hospitalisation (often in intensive care). During the Covid-19 pandemic it is crucial to avoid hospital admissions where possible and prophylaxis with palivizumab significantly reduces the risk of admission due to RSV in premature infants.

To read the full article, please see https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33107769/