Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) poses a major health and economic burden among older adults in high-income APEC countries. In 2023, it was linked to 778,000 hospitalizations and USD 2.8 billion in hospitalization costs, with China (~USD 1.9B), Japan (~USD 400M), and Canada (~USD 290M) carrying the heaviest impact. Hospitalization costs ranged from USD 2,735 in New Zealand to USD 12,826 in Canada, straining healthcare systems as populations age. With one in 500 older adults hospitalized annually, policymakers are urged to expand RSV surveillance, standardize diagnostics, and increase access to newly available vaccines.

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