HIQA launches public consultation on a health technology assessment of immunisation against RSV
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has launched a public consultation on its draft health technology assessment (HTA) of immunisation against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Ireland.
HIQA was asked to complete this assessment to inform a long-term policy decision by the Minister for Health regarding an RSV immunisation strategy for infants and older adults in Ireland.
RSV is a common viral infection that affects the lungs and upper airways. While most people recover without medical care, RSV can cause serious illness especially in infants, young children and older adults. Every winter in Ireland, more than 7,000 people are diagnosed with RSV, with historically a large number of young children requiring admission to hospital, especially infants aged less than one year.
HIQA found that RSV immunisation is safe and effective. For infants, immunisation provides protection for a single RSV season. For older adults, it provides protection for up to three RSV seasons, but the benefit decreases over time. The cost of a national RSV immunisation programme is substantial. For example, providing immunisation to all infants would cost the HSE an additional €50 to €60 million over the first five years, while offering immunisation to adults aged 80 years and older would cost an additional €70 million over the same period.
Dr Máirín Ryan, HIQA's Deputy CEO and Director of Health Technology Assessment said:
“RSV places substantial pressure on the healthcare system and families each winter. This is particularly seen in paediatric services due to the disproportionate impact of RSV on young children, particularly those aged less than one year.”
Dr Ryan continued:
“RSV immunisation is safe and would significantly reduce the RSV burden on families and on healthcare services. However, these new RSV immunisation products are expensive. The HSE would have to negotiate considerable price reductions in order for any of the immunisation strategies reviewed to represent an efficient use of HSE resources.”
The draft findings of this HTA have now been published and HIQA is seeking feedback from the public on the draft report. A consultation form, which can be completed online or downloaded and filled out, is available at www.hiqa.ie. The deadline for submissions is 5 pm on 20 January 2026.
Following the public consultation, the report will be finalised and submitted as advice to the HSE and the Minister of Health.
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For further information please contact:
Caoimhe O’Connell, Communications Manager 087 639 5916 / caoconnell@hiqa.ie
Notes to the editor:
- The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published the following document:
- Draft health technology assessment of immunisation against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Ireland
- For the 2024-2025 RSV season, the HSE ran a pilot RSV immunisation programme, which offered free RSV immunisation to babies born between 1 September 2024 and 28 February 2025. Information on the impact of this programme can be found here. A second pilot is running for the 2025-2026 RSV season, with the pilot extended to also offer immunisation to those born between 1 March to 31 August 2025. More details can be found here.
- HIQA found that 22 European countries have recently introduced RSV immunisation programmes for infants, with eight countries introducing programmes for older adults. The programmes differ in terms of the subgroups to whom immunisation is offered, with some countries, like Ireland, implementing their programmes on a temporary basis.
- HIQA has previously published the following documents:
- Find out more about RSV here.