Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link

Volume 32, Number 2—February 2026

Dispatch

Effectiveness of RSV Vaccines against RSV-Associated Thromboembolic Events

Ryan E. WiegandComments to Author , Heng-Ming Sung, Yue Zhang, Andrea Chavez, Amber Kautz, Josephine Mak, Morgan Najdowski, Yangping Chen, Yenlin Lai, Yixin Jiao, Yoganand Chillarige, Ruth Link-Gelles, and Amanda B. Payne
Author affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (R.E. Wiegand, A. Kautz, J. Mak, M. Najdowski, R. Link-Gelles, A.B. Payne); Acumen LLC, Burlingame, California, USA (H.-M. Sung, Y. Zhang, A. Chavez, Y. Chen, Y. Lai, Y. Jiao, Y. Chillarige); General Dynamics Information Technology, Atlanta (A. Kautz); Eagle Health Analytics, San Antonio, Texas, USA (M. Najdowski); US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, Rockville, Maryland, USA (R. Link-Gelles)

Main Article

Table

Adjusted VE of RSV vaccine against RSV-associated TEs among community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries >65 years of age, United States, October 1, 2023–March 30, 2024*

Stratification or vaccination status No. beneficiaries No. RSV-associated TEs Total no. TEs per 10,000 person-years Median follow-up days contributed to category Outcome rates per 10,000 person-years Adjusted VE, % (95% CI)
Overall
Unvaccinated 12,353,511 2,405 627 181 3.84 Referent
Vaccinated
 3,204,875
 96
 109
 132
 0.88
 79 (74–83)
Immunocompromised
Unvaccinated 1,587,615 523 81 181 6.46 Referent
Vaccinated
 509,928
 36
 17
 131
 2.07
 69 (56–78)
Immunocompetent
Unvaccinated 10,765,895 1,882 546 181 3.45 Referent
Vaccinated
 2,694,947
 60
 92
 132
 0.65
 82 (77–86)
Age 65–74 y
Unvaccinated 6,711,712 630 341 181 1.85 Referent
Vaccinated
 1,605,200
 27
 55
 132
 0.49
 75 (63–83)
Age ≥75 y
Unvaccinated 5,641,799 1,775 286 181 6.20 Referent
Vaccinated
 1,599,675
 69
 54
 131
 1.27
 80 (74–84)
Time since vaccination, d
14–59 208,379 33 38 46 0.87 80 (72–86)
60–119 840,280 44 44 60 1.01 79 (72–84)
>120†
 2,156,216
 19
 28
 46
 0.68
 75 (60–84)
Vaccine product
Arexvy‡ 2,193,463 74 74 130 1.00 76 (70–81)
Abrysvo§ 1,011,412 22 35 137 0.63 85 (77–90)

*Adjusted VE estimates from multivariable Cox proportional hazards models after controlling for age group, sex, race/ethnicity, social vulnerability index deciles, rural or urban category (determined by location of a beneficiary’s facility in a US Census Core Based Statistical Area or not), a count of the number of underlying medical conditions, immunocompromise status, influenza vaccination in the previous season, and COVID-19 vaccination during the current season. VE calculated by using the formula VE = (1 – hazard ratio) × 100 (Appendix, https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/EID/article/32/2/25-1520-App1.pdf). RSV, respiratory syncytial virus; TEs, thromboembolic events; VE, vaccine effectiveness. †Maximum number of days a beneficiary in interim analysis is contributing is 127 days. ‡GlaxoSmithKline, https://www.gsk.com. §Pfizer, https://www.pfizer.com.

Main Article

Page created: January 29, 2026
Page updated: February 19, 2026
Page reviewed: February 19, 2026
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
file_external