Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42284362›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Evaluating respiratory syncytial virus immunization strategies for infants in Canada: A cost-utility analysis.

Gebremedhin B Gebretekle, Marie Lan, Min Xi, Raphael Ximenes, Sarah A Buchan, Elissa M Abrams, Melissa K Andrew, Nicholas Brousseau, April Killikelly, Deborah Money and 6 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Gebremedhin B GebretekleCentre for Immunization Surveillance and Programs, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Marie LanCentre for Immunization Surveillance and Programs, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8421-8765
Min XiCentre for Immunization Surveillance and Programs, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Raphael XimenesCentre for Immunization Surveillance and Programs, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Sarah A BuchanInstitute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Elissa M AbramsCentre for Immunization Surveillance and Programs, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Melissa K AndrewDepartment of Medicine (Geriatrics), Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Nicholas BrousseauDepartment of Social and Preventive Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, Quebec, Canada.
April KillikellyCentre for Immunization Surveillance and Programs, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Deborah MoneyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Jesse PapenburgDepartment of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4232-871X
Ellen RaffertyInstitute of Health Economics, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Joan L RobinsonDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Winnie SiuCentre for Immunization Surveillance and Programs, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5772-1509
Matthew TunisCentre for Immunization Surveillance and Programs, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Ashleigh R TuiteCentre for Immunization Surveillance and Programs, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4373-9337

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infections and hospitalizations among infants in Canada. New long-acting monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and vaccines administered during pregnancy have expanded prevention options, yet the most cost-effective immunization program remains uncertain.

methodsWe updated a Canadian cost-utility model to evaluate seven seasonal RSV prevention strategies over one year (with a lifetime horizon for mortality impacts), from health system and societal perspectives. Strategies included RSVpreF vaccination in late pregnancy; targeted or universal infant mAb programs using nirsevimab or clesrovimab; and combination programs in which infants could receive protection from either RSVpreF or mAbs. Sequential incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were estimated in 2024 Canadian dollars per quality-adjusted life year (QALY), using a $50,000/QALY threshold. The primary analysis used immunization product list prices.

findingsThe most cost-effective strategy was a seasonal combination program: RSVpreF vaccination for pregnancies due during the RSV season, with mAb for infants at high risk (<32 weeks' gestation), including catch-up for infants at high risk born before the season. This strategy had an ICER of $35,408/QALY compared to seasonal mAb for infants at moderate risk (320/7 to 366/7 weeks' gestation) or high-risk with catch-up. Expanding mAb to unimmunized non-high-risk infants born in-season increased the ICER to $132,131/QALY. Universal infant protection, with mAb alone or combined with RSVpreF in pregnancy, was not cost-effective across analyses. RSVpreF alone was dominated. Results were most sensitive to product prices, target populations, age at administration, and RSV burden.

conclusionsA seasonal combination program with RSVpreF for in-season deliveries and mAb for infants at high risk of RSV offers the best value for money for protecting Canadian infants from RSV disease. Broader infant immunization programs may be cost-effective with substantial price reductions or in regions with higher disease burden and healthcare costs.

Indexed as

Respiratory Syncytial Virus InfectionsRespiratory Syncytial Virus VaccinesAntibodies, MonoclonalCanadaCost-Benefit AnalysisCost-Effectiveness AnalysisFemaleHumansImmunization ProgramsInfantInfant, NewbornPregnancyQuality-Adjusted Life YearsAntibodies, MonoclonalRespiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines

Identifiers

PMID42284362
PMCPMC13262847

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.