Association between respiratory syncytial virus vaccination and medical information sources among older Japanese in the post-COVID-19 era: a cross-sectional study

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes substantial morbidity among older adults; however, RSV vaccination remains limited in Japan. Identifying effective information channels to promote RSV vaccination is particularly important in the post-COVID-19 era. We conducted a nationwide, cross-sectional online survey in Japan among adults aged ≥ 60 years. The analysis examined associations between RSV vaccination status and medical information sources, knowledge regarding RSV infection and vaccination, and prior vaccination history. Among the 8,300 participants, RSV vaccination uptake was 4.2%. Individuals who received the RSV vaccine more frequently reported obtaining information from interpersonal or institution-based sources, including healthcare professionals and workplaces or schools, as well as from media-based sources such as academic websites, LINE, and magazine. RSV vaccination was positively associated with higher knowledge score regarding RSV infection and the RSV vaccine, as well as with prior vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, influenza, and pneumococcal disease. RSV vaccination in older adults in Japan is associated with specific interpersonal and media-based sources of information. Recommendations from healthcare professionals may support individualized vaccination promotion, particularly among individuals with a prior vaccination history, whereas push-based information channels such as LINE may be useful for population-level dissemination of RSV-related knowledge.