Québec's first universal nirsevimab season cut infant RSV hospitalisations by two-thirds

Québec introduced universal nirsevimab immunisation for infants in the 2024-25 RSV season, and the evaluation compared RSV-confirmed and RSV-associated hospitalisations and emergency department visits in eligible 0-5-month-olds with trends in non-eligible age groups, using difference-in-differences and a constant-admissions-proportion counterfactual. RSV-confirmed hospitalisations fell 59% (95% CI 49-70) and RSV-associated hospitalisations 66% (58-71); acute bronchiolitis emergency visits fell 35%. The authors estimate between 323 and 746 hospitalisations were averted in one season.

Why it is interesting: A whole-province administrative evaluation of a monoclonal antibody given as a routine programme, showing effect sizes close to the trial estimates once time trends in untargeted ages are removed.

Source: Epidemiology, 2026-09-15
DOI: 10.1097/ede.0000000000002050
Type: Peer-reviewed article
Design: Population-level quasi-experimental evaluation (difference-in-differences and counterfactual) using surveillance and administrative data, all Québec children under 18, 2024-25 RSV season versus prior seasons
Verdict: Confirms prior evidence
Driver: Infectious disease and pandemics

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