The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) has started vaccinating people against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), one of the leading causes of infant mortality worldwide.
RSV is a common cause of coughs and colds that can lead to severe lung infections like pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis, prevalent in older people and young children.
The NHS will start vaccinating pregnant women and older adults, including those turning 75 years old this month, as part of the healthcare system’s winter preparations.
Also, it will provide a one-off ‘catch-up’ offer for all the people aged between 75 and 79 years, to ensure the older age group are protected as the winter months approach.
Staff from vaccination and maternity teams across the country have worked to bring together services to help pregnant women receive life-saving vaccinations alongside maternity care.
Women are advised to consult their maternity service provider about receiving the vaccine at any point from 28 weeks into their pregnancy, up to childbirth.
In addition, pregnant women can get vaccinated by requesting their local GP practice, while older adults will be invited by their local GP practice.
NHS vaccinations and screening national director Steve Russell said: “After months of preparation from our hardworking staff, for the first time ever we are now offering the RSV vaccine to pregnant women and older adults at greatest risk, helping to protect the lives of those vulnerable and ease pressures across the NHS as winter approaches.
“Getting vaccinated is the best way you can protect yourself and those around you – and while RSV infections can occur all year round, cases usually peak in winter, so it’s important that those eligible take up the offer as soon as possible this autumn when offered by the NHS.”
In addition to RSV, NHS is launching vaccination programmes for other viruses which cause the most harm during winter, including flu and Covid-19.
The healthcare system is preparing plans to protect people at high risk ahead of winter.
It will provide flu vaccinations to pregnant women and most children starting this month and to other eligible people alongside the Covid-19 vaccine, from 3 October this year.
NHS said that vaccination during pregnancy is the best way to protect a baby from getting seriously ill with RSV, and its teams are preparing to roll out the vaccines across England.
The vaccine enhances the mother’s immune system to produce more antibodies against the virus, to help protect the baby from the day they are born.
The RSV vaccine has been approved by regulators in the UK, Europe, and the US, as advised by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
NHS England chief midwifery officer Kate Brintworth said: “Vaccination is a vital means of protecting babies, women and families, as well as helping to manage increased pressures on NHS capacity during the winter period.
“I would like to thank all those who have been working to make this ground-breaking vaccine rollout a reality, and with almost 30 years as a midwife myself, I appreciate all the efforts across the NHS in bringing together vaccination and maternity services so that it is easy for women to get an RSV jab as soon as they’re eligible.”
