HIQA commences assessment of RSV immunisation for the 2026-2027 season and beyond
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published a protocol for a health technology assessment (HTA) of immunisation of infants and or adults aged 65 and older against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Ireland.
The primary objective of this HTA is to provide advice to the Minister for Health and Health Service Executive (HSE) to inform a policy decision on the most appropriate RSV immunisation strategy for infants and or adults aged 65 and older in Ireland for the 2026-2027 and subsequent RSV seasons.
RSV is a highly contagious virus that affects 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. While infection with RSV can usually be managed without seeing a doctor, in some cases severe infections can lead to hospitalisation.
Infants, young children and older adults are particularly vulnerable to serious complications from RSV. Historically, a large number of children, especially infants aged less than one year, are hospitalised each year due to RSV.
This HTA was requested by the Department of Health, and follows HIQA’s previous publication of a rapid HTA of alternative infant and adult immunisation strategies against RSV in Ireland. This rapid HTA was published in August 2024 to inform an interim policy decision on the most appropriate immunisation strategy for the 2025-2026 RSV season.
In June 2024, the Minister for Health announced the RSV Immunisation Pathfinder Programme for the 2024-2025 season. Through this programme, parents of babies born from September 2024 to February 2025 are encouraged to have their newborns immunised with nirsevimab before leaving the maternity unit.
Dr Máirín Ryan, HIQA’s Deputy CEO and Director of Health Technology Assessment, said: “This HTA will build on our rapid HTA published in August 2024, and will include emerging international evidence as well as experience from the HSE’s ongoing RSV Immunisation Pathfinder Programme. This will enable us to provide comprehensive advice to inform a longer-term policy decision about RSV immunisation in Ireland.”
HIQA’s assessment will assess the clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and budget impact of alternative strategies for the immunisation of infants and adults aged 65 years and older against RSV. This HTA will also consider the organisational, resource, ethical, patient and social implications associated with these alternative strategies.
A draft report will be made available in due course for public consultation prior to being finalised and submitted as advice to inform decision-making by the Minister for Health and the HSE.
Read the protocol on www.hiqa.ie.
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