Development of an intradermal DNA vaccine delivery strategy to achieve single-dose immunity against respiratory syncytial virus.

•Delineation of a DNA-based RSV vaccine delivery strategy targeting the epidermis.•Elicitation of robust immune responses after vaccine delivery to the epidermis of relevant preclinical models.•Full protection against lower respiratory disease in the cotton rat RSV/A challenge model.•In contrast to the formalin-inactivated RSV (FI-RSV) vaccine, there was no enhanced lung inflammation upon virus challenge.