London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Pregnant ladies and older individuals across England will be routinely vaccinated against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for the first time, the NHS has stated.
From 1 September the NHS will vaccinate pregnant women from 28 weeks ahead and adults riding 75. Adults aged 75 to 79 will be presented with a catchup vaccine to make sure they are rescued. Previous studies have demonstrated that giving pregnant women the RSV vaccine reduces the chance of babies experiencing extreme lung infections in the first six months of life by about 70%.
Why Is the RSV Vaccine Important for Babies and Seniors?
The RSV vaccine has been authorised by the medicines regulators in the UK, as reported by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). RSV can generate a lung infection called bronchiolitis which can make it challenging for babies to breathe and feed. Approximately 20,000 babies are admitted to hospitals with the virus each year in England, and it is the main reason for winter pressures in children’s hospitals and paediatric intensive care units.
RSV cases in children have been growing in the past couple of years, with an average of 146 young children in hospital each day in the winter of 2023, an 11% increase on the peak in previous winters.
How Does RSV Vaccination Reduce Hospital Pressures?
A recent analysis in the Lancet showed that a vaccination programme could contain 5,000 hospitalisations and 15,000 A&E attendances for babies. The same modelling indicated that the first season of the older adults catchup programme could contain about 2,500 hospital admissions, 15,000 GP stays and 60,000 RSV illnesses.
How Will RSV Vaccination Change Care for Premature Babies?
Mina Patel, 36, from Kent, expressed her daughter had supposed RSV as a baby in 2017, having been born premature 12 weeks early. “She had been in hospital with pneumonia and all sorts of lung infections and when she moved in for pneumonia they suspected it was RSV,” she stated. “The hospital staff suspected it was RSV, although they didn’t put it down in writing,” Patel expressed the national supply of the vaccine would be useful to mothers and their babies. “I think the vaccine is worth it because pneumonia and any type of lung infection is dangerous for a vulnerable baby, and so to get RSV as well, that could be detrimental.”
Steve Russell, the NHS national director for vaccinations and screening, stated: “After months of preparation from our hard-working team, for the first time we are now delivering the RSV vaccine to pregnant women and older adults at greatest danger, helping to protect the lives of those vulnerable and relief pressures across the NHS as winter approaches.
“Getting immunised is the best way you can protect yourself and those around you, and while RSV infections can happen all year round, cases usually peak in winter, so it’s essential that those eligible take up the offer as soon as possible this autumn when offered by the NHS.”