Pregnant women and older people across England will be offered the routine vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for the first time, the NHS has announced.
From September 1, the NHS will vaccinate women from 28 weeks pregnant onwards and adults turning 75. Adults aged 75 to 79 will be offered a catch-up vaccine to ensure they are protected.
Previous studies have shown that giving the RSV vaccine to pregnant women reduces the risk of their babies developing severe lung infections within the first six months of life by about 70%.
The RSV vaccine was approved by the UK medicines regulatory agency on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
RSV It causes a lung infection called bronchitis and can make it difficult for babies to breathe and feed. Around 20,000 babies are hospitalised with the virus in England each year, and it is a major cause of winter pressure on children's hospitals and paediatric intensive care units.
Cases of RSV infection in children have been increasing over the past few years, with an average of 146 young children hospitalized per day in the winter of 2023, an 11% increase from previous winter peaks.
Recent study A paper published in The Lancet showed that the vaccination programme could prevent 5,000 hospital admissions and 15,000 emergency department visits among infants. Modelling suggested that the first season of the elderly catch-up programme could prevent around 2,500 hospital admissions, 15,000 general practitioner consultations and 60,000 cases of RSV infection.
Mina Patel, 36, from Kent, said she suspected her daughter, who was born 12 weeks premature in 2017, had RSV. “She had been in hospital with pneumonia and various lung infections and RSV was suspected when she was admitted to hospital with pneumonia,” she said. “Hospital staff also suspected RSV but didn't document it.”
Ms Patel said a national vaccine supply would be beneficial for mothers and babies: “I think it's worth vaccinating them because pneumonia and any kind of lung infection can be dangerous for vulnerable babies and RSV infection can be harmful.”
Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccination and screening, said: “After months of preparation by our hard-working staff, for the first time we will be offering the RSV vaccine to pregnant women and older people who are most at risk, helping to protect the lives of vulnerable people and reducing pressure across the NHS as winter approaches.”
“Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and those around you. RSV infections can occur all year round but usually peak in the winter, so it's important that anyone eligible for the vaccine offered by the NHS this autumn gets vaccinated as soon as they can.”
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Jenny Harries, chief executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: “This new vaccine offers a great opportunity to prevent severe illness in people most vulnerable to RSV, helping to save lives and reduce the winter burden on the NHS. UKHSA has provided important scientific information that demonstrates the benefits of the national RSV vaccination programme and the rollout of the vaccine marks a truly positive moment for the nation's health.”
Kate Brinthworth, chief midwife for NHS England, said: “Vaccination is a vital way to protect babies, women and families, whilst also helping to manage the increased strain on NHS capacity over the winter period.”
“I would like to thank everyone who has worked hard to make this groundbreaking vaccine rollout possible. I have worked as a midwife for nearly 30 years and am grateful for the work across the NHS to integrate vaccination and maternity services so that women can receive the RSV vaccine as soon as they are eligible.”
