Summary of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) statement update on the recommended use of palivizumab to reduce complications of respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract infection in young children worldwide. Underlying health conditions, especially premature birth, chronic lung disease and congenital heart disease, predispose to severe RSV illness. The only means of prophylaxis against RSV disease is passive prophylaxis with the monoclonal antibody, palivizumab (PVZ) (Synagis(TM)). The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) published a statement for PVZ use in 2003. The purpose of this article is to update previous NACI recommendations for the use of PVZ, taking into consideration recent data on RSV burden of illness, effectiveness of PVZ in infants at risk of more severe RSV disease and economic implications of PVZ use. METHODS: The NACI Working Group and external experts performed systematic literature reviews on three topics to support updated NACI guidance: 1) RSV burden of disease; 2) PVZ effectiveness; and 3) cost effectiveness of PVZ prophylaxis. Full details and results are presented in the statement and supporting documents. RESULTS: Respiratory syncytial virus hospitalization (RSVH) rates are highest in children younger than one year of age and especially in the first two months of life. In various populations of infants at risk of severe RSV infection, PVZ prophylaxis is associated with reductions of 38%–86% in the risk of RSVH. Only rare cases of anaphylaxis have been reported after decades of use. Palivizumab is expensive and only cost-saving in rare scenarios. CONCLUSION: Updated NACI recommendations on use of PVZ for the prevention of complications of RSV in infants are now available.