The Greater Manchester MP and public health minister Andrew Gwynne has urged all pregnant women to get the RSV vaccine after describing how he nearly lost his two year old Grandson to the disease
Lyle was born in 2019 and at just a few weeks old developed Respiratory Synclytial Virus
After falling ill with cold like symptoms he very quickly began having breathing problems and was blue lighted in an ambulance to Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool where he was put in an induced coma and spent two weeks in intensive care.
”No child should have to go through that” said the MP.However there are over 30,000 cases a year and for a few parents the disease will end in the death of the child”
The NHS will be vaccinating pregnant women and older adults, including those turning 75 on or after 1 September.
There will also be a one-off ‘catch-up’ offer for everyone aged 75 to 79 years old to ensure the older age group are protected as the winter months approach.
Staff from vaccination and maternity teams across the country have worked to bring together services so that it is 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.
Research from the thousands of women across the world who have been vaccinated against RSV shows that it reduces the risk of severe lung infection by around 70% in the first six months of life, with NHS teams across England gearing up to roll out the jabs all year round as of this week.
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 the day they are born.
The RSV virus is a main cause of winter pressures in children’s hospitals every year, leading to increased pressure on paediatric intensive care units.
RSV cases in children have been increasing in the past couple of years, with an average of 146 young children in hospital each day at the peak in winter last year (w/e 3 December 2023), up 11% on the peak observed during the previous winter (132) from the same time in late November.
A recent study in the Lancet showed that the new programme could prevent 5,000 hospitalisations and 15,000 A&E attendances for infants – a critical, life-saving step forward to help front line staff prepare for increased winter pressures.
The same modelling suggests that the first season of the older adult’s catch-up programme could prevent around 2,500 hospital admissions, 15,000 GP visits and 60,000 RSV illnesses in adults in the older age group.
Steve Russell, NHS National Director for Vaccinations and Screening, said: “After months of preparation from our hardworking staff, for the first time ever we are now offering the RSV vaccine to pregnant women and older adults at greatest risk – helping to protect the lives of those vulnerable and ease pressures across the NHS as winter approaches.
“Getting vaccinated is the best way you can protect yourself and those around you – 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.”
Andrew Gwynne added
“RSV is preventable, and it is crucial that we take the necessary steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones. This new vaccine programme will reduce thousands of hospitalisations and save precious lives.
“I strongly urge everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated and secure the future health of your children and loved ones.”
