Eligible people in England will soon be able to get a vaccine for the lung infection respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) via the NHS for the first time.
Health chiefs today detailed their plans to offer the new RSV jab to those aged 75 to 79 as well as pregnant women past 28 weeks, in a bid to protect young children, from September.
A recent analysis suggested that offering the jab to these groups could prevent 5,000 hospital admissions a season, and up to 15,000 A&E attendances among infants.
The same estimates said the jab rollout could also free up 20,0000 GP appointments and prevent 200 babies being sent to intensive care this winter.
RSV is a common cause of coughs and colds and while a mild ailment for most healthy people, the infection can be dangerous to elderly and very young children.
Health chiefs today detailed their plans to offer the new RSV jab to those aged 75 to 79 as well as pregnant women past 28 weeks, in a bid to protect young children, from September
It can lead to serious infections and breathing complications like pneumonia and as a result RSV is responsible for between 20 to 30 deaths in children each year in Britain.
RSV is also thought to contribute to deaths in older people as the virus’s impact on the lungs reduces the amount of oxygen supplied to the body, causing the heart to fail.
The NHS’s plans for the rollout comes as part of its winter vaccine plans, which also includes Covid and flu jabs.
Similar to previous years, those in vulnerable groups and the staff that care for them will be eligible for those vaccines.
While people can get their flu and Covid jab on the same day, those who are also eligible for the RSV vaccine will need to wait at least a day between injections to maximise its effectiveness.
While preventing severe RSV infections is a benefit of itself, health chiefs also hope the jabs will reduce winter pressures on NHS services in general.
People who are eligible for the RSV jab are expected to be invited via their GP, or in case of pregnant women, potentially their midwife.
Steve Russell, the NHS’s national director for vaccinations and screening said: ‘This year for the first time, we will also be offering the RSV vaccine to older people and pregnant women, to provide vital protection against this dangerous virus for those at greatest risk.’
‘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.’
Minister for Public Health and Prevention Andrew Gwynne added: ‘For the first time ever this year, we’re offering RSV vaccinations as well as Covid and flu doses, supporting the most vulnerable people and protecting our NHS this winter.’
The move to offer the RSV jab on the NHS comes about a year after the Government’s vaccination advisory group recommended it.
This led to concerns earlier this year that health officials were running out of time to purchase the jab.
The decision also follows calls from the Mail On Sunday for the jab to be made available this winter.
RSV is spread by large droplets and the virus can survive on surfaces for up to seven hours.
