A territory-wide population-based study has identified significant knowledge gaps regarding
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), with a quarter of respondents reporting no prior awareness of RSV and approximately 40 percent incorrectly believing RSV-specific antiviral treatments exist. The survey also found that approximately two-thirds of respondents would be willing to receive a fully funded vaccine and that knowledge about RSV significantly influenced vaccine willingness.
RSV is a major cause of respiratory illness, which may lead to hospitalization and exacerbation of underlying conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure. [
Open Forum Infect Dis 2026;13:ofag341] “Currently, RSV management remains predominantly supportive, as no widely available specific antiviral therapies exist. This highlights the urgent need for preventive strategies, with vaccination being the most effective long-term approach to reduce disease burden,” wrote the researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Two RSV vaccines are currently available in Hong Kong: a bivalent RSV prefusion F (RSVpreF) vaccine against lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV in individuals aged ≥60 years and infants aged ≤6 months (through immunization of pregnant women) and a recombinant adjuvanted RSV vaccine (RSVPreF3) against LRTD in individuals ≥60 years of age and those aged 50–59 years at increased risk of RSV disease.
Public acceptance of vaccines is critical to achieving high vaccination coverage and reducing RSV-related morbidity. Yet perceptions of RSV among Hong Kong residents are unclear, posing challenges in formulating policies to mitigate the health burden associated with the virus. “This study aimed to evaluate the public’s knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward RSV and RSV vaccination in Hong Kong [and was designed to] target educational campaigns and public health interventions to improve vaccine acceptance and uptake,” explained the researchers. [Sci Rep 2026;doi:10.1038/ s41598-026-55277-3]
An online survey involving 2,099 adult respondents conducted in Hong Kong in August 2024 found that 26 percent of respondents had never heard of RSV, while 55 percent were aware of RSV vaccination. Only 16 percent were aware that no specific antiviral drugs exist for RSV, while 39 percent incorrectly believed that specific treatments were available, and 39 percent either did not know or were unsure about RSV complications. “These misconceptions may contribute to individuals underestimating the severity of RSV and the urgency of vaccination,” stressed the researchers.
The survey also evaluated willingness to receive a fully funded RSV vaccine and analyzed associated factors. Willing respondents accounted for 64.6 percent. Among them, the proportion of those with a high level of knowledge about RSV was significantly greater than in the unwilling group (54.9 vs 43.5 percent; p<0.001). Parallel mediation analysis confirmed that knowledge about RSV significantly influenced vaccination willingness. Other factors associated with greater vaccination willingness included higher perceived susceptibility, higher perceived benefit, higher cues to action (eg, reminders or recommendations from healthcare providers or government authorities), higher self-efficacy, and lower perceived barriers.
“[Our] findings highlight the need for public health efforts to prioritize closing identified knowledge gaps, with a specific emphasis on vaccination as the primary preventive strategy in the absence of curative treatments … Physicians, as trusted sources of health information, are uniquely positioned to address patients’ concerns and provide evidence-based recommendations for RSV vaccination,” concluded the researchers.
