Abstract Background In 2023, nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, was recommended to prevent severe RSV illness in the US for all infants aged 8 months and children aged 8-19 months at increased risk of severe RSV disease, including AI/AN children. We assessed nirsevimab effectiveness against RSV-associated medically attended acute respiratory infection (MA-ARI) among AI/AN children. Methods AI/AN children with MA-ARI were enrolled in the Southwest US and Alaska during Nov 6, 2023-May 31, 2024 and Oct 1, 2024-Feb 28, 2025. Mid-turbinate nasal swabs were tested by polymerase chain reaction for RSV. Exposure to RSV prevention products was confirmed by medical record review. Children exposed to nirsevimab within 7 days of MA-ARI or maternal RSV vaccine were excluded. Nirsevimab effectiveness against hospitalization and outpatient visits was assessed separately for children in their 1st (aged 8 months on Oct 1st or born during the RSV season) and 2nd (aged 8-19 months on Oct 1st) RSV seasons. Firth’s logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (aOR) comparing receipt of nirsevimab by case (RSV-positive) and control (RSV-negative) status adjusting for presence of at least one high-risk condition, sex, enrollment month, and region (Southwest or Alaska). Effectiveness was calculated as (1-aOR)*100%. Results Of 612 children (61% inpatient) with MA-ARI, 94 (29%) in their 1st RSV season and 117 (40%) in their 2nd season had a positive RSV test; 137 (43%) in their 1st and 52 (18%) in their 2nd season received nirsevimab at a median of 80 IQR: 47, 123 and 59 IQR: 34, 106 days before illness onset, respectively (Tables 1, 2). Nirsevimab was effective against overall RSV MA-ARI (82.7% 95% CI: 66.6, 91.1 in the 1st season; 93.7% 80.8, 97.9 in the 2nd season) and hospitalization (87.0% 67.7, 94.8 1st season; 88.8% 56.7, 97.1 2nd season) (Table 3). Nirsevimab was effective against outpatient RSV MA-ARI among children in their 2nd season (92.3% 54.1, 98.7) but not their 1st (20.9% -165.2, 76.4). Conclusion Nirsevimab prevented RSV-associated hospitalization among children in their first and second RSV seasons and RSV-associated outpatient visits among children in their second RSV season, supporting current CDC recommendations for nirsevimab use. Disclosures Laura Hammitt, MD, AstraZeneca: Grant/Research Support James Chappell, MD, PhD, Merck: Grant support for etiologic studies of acute respiratory illness in hospitalized children, Amman, Jordan Natasha B. Halasa, MD, CSL-Seqirus: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Grant/Research Support Catherine Sutcliffe, PhD, SCM, AstraZeneca: Grant/Research Support
Hammitt et al. (Thu,) studied this question.