As new vaccines continue to emerge at an unprecedented pace, countries face growing questions about how to introduce them effectively, ensure acceptance, and integrate them into national immunization programs.

To close its 2025 webinar calendar, EMPHNET hosted the 50^th and final session of 2025, titled “Making New Vaccines Work: Strategies for Introduction, Delivery, and Demand – Example of RSV,” on December 16, 2025.

The webinar focused on Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a leading cause of severe respiratory infections among infants and older adults and used it as a case study to explore how countries can translate global innovation into country-level impact. The session brought together experts from global, regional, and national levels to examine evidence, readiness, and implementation considerations relevant to countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR).

Opening Remarks

The webinar was moderated by Prof. Ziad A. Memish, Senior Advisor for Medical and Humanitarian Research at King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), former Deputy Minister of Health for Public Health in Saudi Arabia, and Professor of Infectious Diseases at Alfaisal University.

In his opening remarks, Prof. Memish emphasized the importance of grounding new vaccine introduction decisions in evidence, feasibility, and health system realities, particularly in settings facing competing priorities and resource constraints.

Global Experience and Strategic Guidance from the Americas

The session opened with a global overview by Dr. Francisco Nogareda, Focal Point for Influenza, COVID-19, and RSV Immunization at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Dr. Nogareda presented the burden of RSV in the Region of the Americas and outlined PAHO’s recommendations on the use of maternal RSV vaccines and long-acting monoclonal antibodies.

Drawing on experiences from early adopter countries in the Americas, including Argentina and Chile, he highlighted key considerations for RSV prevention strategies, including timing based on seasonality, integration within existing maternal and child health platforms, and the importance of post-introduction monitoring. He also underscored that RSV product introduction should be accompanied by safety surveillance, effectiveness and impact evaluations, and careful assessment of affordability and sustainability within national immunization programs.

Evidence on Vaccine Effectiveness and Programmatic Considerations

Dr. Muhammad Imran Nisar, Associate Professor and Vice-Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health at Aga Khan University, Pakistan, presented evidence on RSV disease burden, vaccine effectiveness, and maternal immunization as a prevention strategy.

He highlighted findings from clinical trials and real-world studies demonstrating the effectiveness and acceptable safety profile of maternal RSV vaccination in preventing severe RSV disease and hospitalization in infants during the first months of life. Dr. Nisar also emphasized that a substantial proportion of RSV-related mortality in low- and middle-income countries occurs in community settings rather than hospitals, underscoring the need for better surveillance and data generation. He discussed challenges related to data availability, cost-effectiveness assessments, health system readiness, and the role of National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) in supporting evidence-based decision-making.

Regional Perspective on RSV Burden and Readiness in the EMR

The regional context was addressed by Dr. Ezzeddine Mohsni, Public Health International Expert in Vaccines and Immunization and Chair of the WHO EMR Regional Immunization Technical Advisory Group (RITAG). Dr. Mohsni provided an overview of RSV epidemiology in the EMR, noting that while RSV contributes substantially to infant morbidity and mortality, regional data remain limited and uneven.

He highlighted gaps in surveillance, challenges in documenting RSV burden across age groups, and the importance of understanding seasonality patterns to inform strategies. Dr. Mohsni emphasized that strengthening surveillance systems, delivery platforms, particularly maternal immunization platforms, financing, logistics, and communication efforts are critical prerequisites for informed RSV prevention decisions in the region.

Audience Discussion

The discussion and Q&A session reflected strong engagement from participants, with questions focusing on key policy and implementation issues. The discussion underscored the need for context-specific strategies, strong local data, and careful prioritization when considering the introduction of RSV and other new vaccines.

Key Takeaways

The webinar highlighted several main messages:

• Evidence on disease burden, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness is essential to support sound policy decisions.
• Surveillance and local data generation are foundational for understanding RSV epidemiology and guiding introduction strategies.
• Successful vaccine introduction depends on strong delivery systems, clear communication, and demand generation among health workers and communities.
• Learning from early adopters is valuable, while adaptation to regional and country-specific realities remains critical.

As the final WEBi session of 2025, the webinar reaffirmed EMPHNET’s commitment to facilitating evidence-based dialogue, regional learning, and practical exchange to support countries navigating complex public health decisions.

Watch the webinar here.

Explore more sessions from the EMPHNET WEBi Series here.