Pregnant women are being urged to take up the new RSV vaccine that will protect their babies from serious respiratory illnesses.
From September, the RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) vaccine will be available to all pregnant women following a recommendation from the UK’s Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
A recent study estimated that the new programme, launching in England this autumn, could prevent 5,000 hospitalisations and 15,000 emergency department attendances for infants.
Despite infecting around 90% of children within the first two years of life, RSV is not something that many people are aware of. It typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms. However, it can lead to severe lung infections like pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis and is a leading cause of infant mortality globally.
Councillor Martin Towler, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods and Communities: Health and Wellbeing said; “Respiratory illnesses can be awful in very young babies, which is why I am urging pregnant women to take the new RSV vaccine to protect their babies.
“The vaccine reduces the risk of severe bronchiolitis by 70% in the first six months of life. It is the safest way to protect you and your baby and has been approved by medicines regulators in the UK, Europe and the USA.
“When babies are born, they are often vulnerable to many illnesses and too young to be vaccinated. By taking the vaccine during pregnancy, mums can be reassured that their babies are protected from serious illnesses during the first few weeks of life.
“RSV illness is also the main cause of winter pressures in children’s hospitals each year, leading to strains on paediatric intensive care units including cancelled operations. It accounts for approximately 20,000 hospitalisations in children under one year old, and is responsible for 20 to 30 infant deaths a year across the UK.”