RSV Vaccine

Pregnant women over 28 weeks in Nottinghamshire are being invited to take up the RSV vaccine to help protect their newborn babies.

Despite infecting around 90% of children within the first 2 years of life, RSV is relatively unknown among the public. It typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms. But it can lead to severe lung infections like pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis and is a leading cause of infant mortality globally.

Each year in the UK, RSV accounts for around 30,000 hospitalisations in children aged under 5 and is responsible for 20 to 30 infant deaths. It also causes around 9,000 hospital admissions in those aged over 75. The RSV programme could free up thousands of hospital bed days and help to avoid hundreds of deaths each year.

Women that are at least 28 weeks pregnant should speak to their maternity service or GP surgery to get the vaccine to protect their baby.

These vaccination programmes will save lives and significantly reduce the burden on the NHS during the challenging winter months.

Steve Russell, NHS National Director for Vaccinations and Screening, said: “RSV is a very serious illness, infecting up to 90% of children by the age of 2 and causing thousands of babies and older people to spend time in hospital over winter – so this rollout is a huge step forward and will undoubtedly save the lives of many of those most at risk.”

The vaccine has been developed and produced by Pfizer and a rollout of the vaccine for both babies and older people began in September 2024.

For more information visit the NHS page about the RSV vaccine.