MILLIONS of people will be offered a vaccine on the NHS to protect against a respiratory virus that can cause serious complications.
From next month, anyone aged 75 and over will be eligible for one dose of Pfizer’s jab Abrysvo to tackle respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
All women who are at least 28 weeks pregnant by the date will also be invited for a shot to help keep themselves and their babies safe.
The NHS in England is being urged to vaccinate as many people as possible in September and October before winter starts and RSV circulates more widely.
Going forward, all women will become eligible for a jab once they reach 28 weeks of pregnancy.
The programme is already underway in Scotland, and Northern Ireland and Wales are expected to follow.
RSV causes infections of the lungs and respiratory tract.
In healthy adults and older children, it typically causes cold-like symptoms.
However, babies are at risk of severe infection with RSV and can need admission to hospital, particularly in the winter months.
Similarly, premature babies, older adults, people with heart and lung disease or anyone with a weak immune system is at greater risk.
RSV accounts for around 33,000 hospitalisations of children under five in the UK every year, and is responsible for between 20 and 30 infant deaths.
The new NHS vaccine programmes in England are expected to be delivered through GP surgeries and pharmacies.
Pregnant women may be invited by their midwives.
A one-off catch-up campaign for those already aged 75 to 79 will also be launched, with the aim of vaccinating as many as possible by the end of August 2025.
Steve Russell, NHS National Director for Vaccinations and Screening said: “This year for the first time, we will be offering the RSV vaccine to older people and pregnant women, to provide vital protection against this dangerous virus for those at greatest risk.
“Along with flu and Covid-19, these viruses leave thousands of people in hospital each year, and the vaccinations help us to keep more people well during the winter months when we expect the NHS to again be under significant pressure – so please come forward as soon as you are invited.”
Dr Conall Watson, consultant epidemiologist at the UK Health Security Agency, added: “We encourage everyone who’s offered an RSV vaccine to take it up when the vaccination programme starts in September.
“RSV is a common respiratory virus that can cause serious lung infections, like bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
“The vaccine will help prevent older adults and small babies from developing more serious complications from the virus whilst helping to reduce pressure on NHS services during the busy winter months.”
The new programmes follow guidance from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the UK Government on jabs.
An NHS spokesperson added: “The NHS will pull out all the stops to ensure that people have protection against this nasty virus ahead of winter, with GPs preparing to offer this new vaccine to vulnerable groups as quickly as possible, so please come forward when you’re invited.”
Symptoms of RSV
PEOPLE commonly show symptoms of the virus four to six days after being infected.
Signs include:
- Runny nose
- Decrease in appetite
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Fever
- Wheezing
But symptoms can be much more subtle in very young babies, including irritability, decreased activity and breathing difficulties.
Most children will have had an RSV infection by their second birthday.
It can cause a condition called bronchiolitis in babies and young children.
Symptoms of bronchiolitis in very young infants include:
- Refusal to breastfeed or bottle-feed
- Breathing more quickly and noisily (wheezing)
- Seeming very tired, upset or inactive
- Signs of dehydration – lack of tears when crying, little or no urine in their nappy for six hours, and cool, dry skin
Source: CDC, Asthma + Lung UK
The jab could prevent 5,000 hospital admissions and up to 15,000 A&E visits among infants every season, recent analysis suggests.
The same estimates said the vaccine rollout could also free up 20,000 GP appointments and prevent 200 babies being sent to intensive care this winter.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) said RSV is so common that most children have been infected with it by their second birthday.
It added that the RSV epidemic peaks in December and is responsible for around 33,000 NHS hospital admissions of under-fives and between 20 and 30 deaths of young children every year.
‘JUST IN THE NICK OF TIME’
Sarah Sleet, CEO of Asthma + Lung UK said: “We are so pleased to see this vaccine rollout which has come just in the nick of time.
“RSV hospitalises over 33,000 children under 5 years old every year, putting a huge strain on the NHS.
“Asthma + Lung UK has long been calling for vaccines to be made available to those most at risk.
“Time is ticking and it is critical that the vaccines are rolled out swiftly to protect vulnerable lungs ahead of winter.
“We are ready to work with the next Government and the NHS to increase awareness of the risks of RSV and the benefits of being vaccinated.”
This newly-announced programme has the potential to transform child health services during the winter months by reducing hospital admissions and could even save young lives
Dr Mike McKean
Dr Mike McKean, from the RCPCH, added: “We’re delighted that the calls of thousands of paediatricians and health professionals for a much-needed RSV programme have been heard.
“Campaigning for an RSV vaccine has been a key issue for the college for many years now and today’s announcement represents a huge step forward for child health and the paediatric workforce in England and Scotland.
“This newly-announced programme has the potential to transform child health services during the winter months by reducing hospital admissions and could even save young lives.
“A reduction in RSV cases annually would allow us to focus on the many other children and young people requiring emergency care over winter months.
“Vaccinations play a crucial role in protecting child health, but we are seeing a worrying decline in uptake across many routine childhood immunisations.
“As paediatricians, we want to continue to champion the use of vaccinations to win the battle against these dangerous and preventable infections.”
People can get their flu and Covid jabs on the same day, but those also eligible for the RSV vaccine must wait at least a day between injections to maximise its effectiveness.