Respiratory Tracker: UK HCPs champion RSV vaccine availability

Throughout September 2024, CREATION Pinpoint^® tracked the conversations of UK online healthcare professionals (HCPs) discussing respiratory diseases on X (Twitter). We analysed 2,240 posts discussing respiratory diseases by 804 HCPs.

In our previous trackers, we observed that back in March, HCPs were actively advocating for a national vaccine program to address RSV among UK infants. On July’s tracker, we saw that their efforts were celebrated as the UK announced the introduction of the RSV vaccination program. This month’s tracker again revealed that this topic remained a focus.

I'm so excited that we finally have vaccines that are protective against severe #RSV disease. I started working on immunity and pathology in #rsv disease in 1985, and here it is! https://t.co/Aen99Ou4BU

— Peter Openshaw (@p_openshaw) September 2, 2024

This month’s most shared link by HCPs was the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) post marking the start of the RSV vaccination program in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland on September 1st. HCPs continued to celebrate this milestone, with Paediatrician Sarah Hallet noting, “I had my RSV vaccine today! As a paediatric SpR, I’m delighted that it is now available to protect infants…” 

Additionally, 42 HCPs further advocated for RSV vaccination by sharing links to the NHS website and promoting vaccine availability. Their posts altogether reached more than 350,000 accounts. 

Huge and exciting development for humanity really… https://t.co/Wx8mAKe6gv

— Joanna Poole 💙 (@[email protected]) (@Jopo_dr) September 20, 2024

On September 9th, HCP conversations around respiratory diseases spiked to 166 mentions, with asthma accounting for 50% of the discussions. HCPs used the hashtag #askaboutasthma 37 times in the early stages of a campaign aiming to raise awareness about childhood asthma management and the need to address healthcare disparities among children. 

HCPs also shared resources on personalised asthma action plans, proper inhaler use, and air pollution triggers to promote the improvement of patient outcomes. 

This week is #askaboutasthma week.
Bury Childrens services have attended Unsworth academy to talk to children about asthma, checked inhaler technique and completed fun quizzes .@UnsworthAcademy @BuryCO_NHS @GMEC_SCN pic.twitter.com/pYYBlM45No

— Sonia Keane (@SoniaKeane6) September 9, 2024

In addition to the asthma discussions, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress also played a significant role in the September 9th spike, with 24 mentions. HCPs shared updates from the congress, highlighting pivotal trials like SWIFT-1 and SWIFT-2, which demonstrated the efficacy of depemokimab in treating severe asthma, as well as insights on the role of respiratory nurses. 

Fascinating abstract on the link between a father’s suns use in puberty & asthma in his offspring! Tobacco harms generations not yet born! #ERSCongress #RespEd pic.twitter.com/ellQlAUXLE

— DrLJ 💙 (@drlaurajane) September 9, 2024

Between September 7th-11th, ERS-related discussions garnered 219 HCP mentions overall. Notably, 75 posts from 28 HCPs focused on COPD:

• A few HCPs addressed COPD’s link to mental health, its association with “structural violence”, and the “neglect of COPD as a condition” as shared by Respiratory Physician John Hurst.
• Key topics included the benefits of cognitive behavioural therapy for COPD and how improving COPD care positively impacts cardiovascular outcomes, discussed by 6 HCPs.

The most shared abstract during this ERS 2024 was “Impact of Omitting Annual Reviews for COPD on Patient Reported Care Quality-Outcomes from the Asthma+Lung COPD Patient Passport”, with 11 HCP mentions.

Impact of omitting annual reviews for COPD on patient reported care quality– outcomes from the Asthma+Lung COPD patient passport. ##ERSCongresshttps://t.co/C6JCsPqeCc @asthmalunguk @ImperialNHLI #StructuralViolence pic.twitter.com/ayEIVH2l67

— Dr Nick Hopkinson (@COPDdoc) September 9, 2024

Very pleased to see The Global State of COPD report released today: @POLITICOEuropehttps://t.co/CoTfQBM4zM

We are making progress tackling this common, neglected and challenging condition – but there is so much more to do.

I will always #SpeakUpforCOPD.

Will you #ERS2024 ?

— John Hurst (@ProfHurst) September 6, 2024

Each month, we track the HCP conversation relating to respiratory disease. You can read other editions in the Respiratory Tracker archive.

You can also keep updated with other pharmaceutical tracking updates, including how HCPs engage with Top 50 pharma and the product approvals that are catching their attention.  To receive updates straight to your inbox you can sign up for our monthly eJournal with our latest HCP insights. 

If you want to dig deeper into what we have seen this month then please get in touch. 

Methodology

• CREATION Pinpoint®/span> was used to analyse 2,240 mentions on X from 804 HCPs in the UK discussing respiratory disease and related terms, throughout September 2024.