Death rates among hospitalized patients were 8.9% to 10.4%, and annual adjusted costs were $32 million to $90 million, mainly driven by ICU care.
The WHO lowered its assessment from high to medium, based on several factors, including high population immunity and improved clinical management.
Ongoing monitoring of vaccine effectiveness during subsequent seasons is needed to more fully characterize waning of protection and inform revaccination intervals, the authors say.
The findings strengthen the evidence supporting universal RSV immunization in children, the authors say.
Test positivity is down slightly, but emergency department visits for COVID are elevated in children.
The authors say the findings support RSV vaccination of older Americans.
The recommended vaccines are against COVID-19, influenza, RSV, pneumonia, and shingles.
All pregnant women, women trying to become pregnant, and those nursing are encouraged to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Infants younger than 6 months are at 3 times the risk for admission.
Findings suggest more efforts are needed to boost uptake of new tools to protect against the leading cause of hospitalization in infants.
