MILLIONS of people are to be offered a jab for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) as part of a new UK-wide vaccination campaign set to begin in September. 

The jab, developed by Pfizer, is the first vaccine for RSV, and will initially be rolled out to pregnant women and elderly people, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced.

RSV is a major cause of respiratory illness worldwide, and almost 90 per cent of children in Britain will catch the bug in their first two years of life. 

It typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms but is particularly dangerous for infants and the elderly where it can develop into conditions like bronchiolitis and pneumonia. 

In the UK, RSV accounts for roughly 40,000 hospitalisations and between 20 and 30 infant deaths every year. 

Pregnant women from 28 weeks will be offered the jab to protect their newborns, whose immune systems typically can’t tolerate vaccinations until they are at least eight weeks old.

Additionally, adults aged between 75 and 79 will be eligible for the jab.

Britain is one of the early adopters of the RSV jab, which was approved for clinical use last year. 

It’s hoped that the new vaccination programme will free up thousands of hospital beds and relieve pressure on the NHS during the winter months, the DHSC said. 

Prof Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency said: “Having successfully procured an effective vaccine and designed a programme to protect both babies and older people, we are already working rapidly with our NHS and local authority colleagues to be ready to provide vaccinations from September.

“This new vaccine offers huge opportunities to prevent severe illness in those most vulnerable to RSV, helping to protect lives and ease winter pressures for the NHS,” Prof Harries added.

The symptoms of RSV

RSV may cause a cough or a cold, wheezing, shortness of breath, tiredness and fever. Most cases are not serious and clear up within 2 to 3 weeks. You can find out more about the symptoms of RSV on the NHS site.

RSV can also cause bronchiolitis in infants, which can make it difficult to breathe and feed. RSV bronchiolitis symptoms may include difficult, fast or noisy breathing and being unsettled or difficult to comfort.

How can I protect my baby from RSV?

The best way to protect babies against RSV infection is for the mother to have the vaccine during pregnancy. Vaccination reduces the risk of severe RSV lung infection by around 70% in the first six months of life.

The vaccine boosts the pregnant woman’s immune system to make antibodies that can fight RSV infection. These antibodies then pass through the placenta to help protect the baby from birth.

The vaccine is offered from week 28 of pregnancy, often by maternity services. If you haven’t been offered the vaccine around the time of your 28-week antenatal appointment, contact your maternity service to make an appointment. Having the RSV vaccine in week 28 or within a few weeks of this gives the best protection for the baby, including if they are born early.

Having the vaccine later in the pregnancy will still provide some protection from infection and reduce the risk of spreading infection to the newborn baby. If it wasn’t possible to have a dose earlier, it can be given right up until you have the baby. 

Is more than one dose of RSV vaccine needed?

Pregnant women should have the RSV vaccine in every pregnancy – this will give your new baby the best protection.

In older adults, a single dose is expected to give good protection for a few years. A single dose of vaccine will help to boost protection as you reach an age group at highest risk of serious RSV infection.

Preventing the spread of RSV

RSV can spread through coughs and sneezes.

You can help to prevent the spread of the virus by covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze (ideally with a tissue, or else into the bend of your elbow), and you can wash your hands with warm soapy water frequently to kill the germs.

If you have symptoms that could be RSV you should try and avoid young babies. It is perfectly okay for parents to ask people with colds to keep away from newborn babies, particularly in the first few months, and for babies born prematurely.

Even with these measures it can be difficult to avoid RSV infection.