NHS teams across the east of England and the rest of the country have started vaccinating people against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) for the first time.
RSV, a leading cause of infant mortality around the world, is a common cause of coughs and colds but it can lead to severe lung infections like pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis. These are highly dangerous to older people, young children, and babies.
As part of winter preparations, the NHS will be vaccinating pregnant women and older adults, including those turning 75 on or after 1 September this year.
There will also be a one-off ‘catch-up’ offer for everyone aged 75 to 79 to make sure this age group is protected as the winter months approach.
Staff from vaccination and maternity teams across the east of England and the country have worked together to make it as easy as possible for pregnant women to get the life-saving jab at any point from 28 weeks into their pregnancy alongside their maternity care.
In the east of England, to make it as easy as possible to get a jab, community vaccination teams will be contacting pregnant women to invite them to book an appointment for their vaccine when it is convenient for them.
Alternatively, pregnant women can get vaccinated by request at their local GP practice. Older adults will be invited to receive a vaccine by their local GP practice.
The NHS will make sure the vaccine is available all year round.
Research shows that the babies of thousands of women across the world who have been vaccinated against RSV had their risk of severe lung infection reduced by around 70% in the first six months of life.
A recent study in the Lancet showed that the new programme could prevent over 500 hospitalisations and almost 1,600 A&E attendances for infants in the east of England each year – a critical, life-saving step forward to help front line staff prepare for increased winter pressures.
The same modelling suggests that in the East of England, the first season of the older adults catch-up programme could prevent more than 300 hospital admissions, almost 2,000 GP visits and over 7,000 RSV illnesses in adults in the older age group.
Having the vaccine during pregnancy is the best way to protect a baby from getting seriously ill with RSV, as the vaccine boosts the mother’s immune system to produce more antibodies against the virus to help protect the baby from birth.
Dr Eleanor Powers, Head of Public Health Commissioning (immunisation) for NHS England – East of England, said: “Getting vaccinated is the best way you can protect yourself and those around you against bronchiolitis and lung infections potentially caused by RSV – 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.”
Wendy Matthews, Chief Midwife, Director of Nursing, East of England, said: “Getting vaccinated is a crucial way to protect babies, women, and families.
“My thanks go to everyone who has made this ground-breaking vaccine rollout a reality, and as a midwife myself, I appreciate all the hard work across the NHS to bring together vaccination and maternity services to make it easy for women to get an RSV jab as soon as they’re eligible.”
Flu vaccinations will also be offered to pregnant women and most children from this month. They will also be offered to others eligible alongside the COVID-19 vaccine from 3 October.
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