Extending RSV immunisation would come with “substantial organisational challenges”, the health and safety watchdog has said.
The Government is to this year offer up to 28,000 babies immunisation to protect them against the potentially fatal respiratory virus. Babies born between September 2024 and February 2025 will be eligible for the jab.
On Tuesday the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) published its rapid assessment of immunisation against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which seeks to inform an interim policy decision on the most appropriate strategy for the subsequent 2025 to 2026 RSV season.
RSV is a highly contagious virus that infects the lungs and upper airways, and is transmitted by coughing, sneezing or breathing. This virus spreads every winter, with the RSV season in Ireland typically running from October to March.
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According to Hiqa’s costing analysis, the estimated one-year cost to the HSE of immunising infants during their first RSV season ranged from €3.9 million to €19 million depending on the approach taken. These costs would be partially offset by the fact that fewer infants would require hospital care.
Offering an RSV vaccine to everyone aged 65 years and older was estimated to cost €146 million, while it would cost over €76 million if only offered to those aged 75 years and older. However, the potential for cost offsets in older adults was noted to be low as there are relatively few confirmed hospitalisations for RSV in this age group.
Dr Máirín Ryan, Hiqa’s deputy chief executive, said: “There would be substantial organisational challenges associated with extending RSV immunisation to the general infant and or older adult population given the large number of individuals involved and the aim to maximise uptake within a short time frame before the start of the RSV season.
“Furthermore, given the uncertainty in relation to the cost associated with the different RSV strategies we advised that the product cost should be a key consideration in any decision-making,” she added.
The virus put significant pressure on paediatric hospitals last year. In 2023 there were 1,397 RSV hospitalisations in infants under one year of age, with the majority (1,017) being infants less than six months of age.
Hiqa will now conduct a larger assessment to provide advice to inform a longer-term policy decision about RSV immunisation
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