Midwives from North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust are urging pregnant women to take up the new RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) vaccine that will be offered to them from September. The vaccine will protect babies from serious respiratory illnesses.
RSV is an extremely common virus which in most cases is fairly harmless to children, typically it causes mild, cold-like symptoms. However, it can lead to severe lung infections like pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis and is a leading cause of hospitalisation or even death.
Denise Lightfoot, Consultant Midwife at NCIC said:
“As midwives, we know how serious RSV can be to young babies. I would urge all pregnant women to take up the offer of the free vaccine to help protect their baby. Babies are extremely vulnerable particularly in those first twelve weeks and are too young to be vaccinated themselves, therefore mothers who have the vaccine during pregnancy are offering their baby the best protection.”
Denise added:
"The vaccine is extremely effective, it gives the immune system a boost and so that it begins to produce more antibodies against the virus.These then pass through the placenta to help protect baby from birth. Breastfeeding continues this protection."
RSV can be contracted at any time of year, but is most prevalent in the colder months. The virus adds significant pressure to our hospitals during the busy winter months.
RSV accounts for approximately 33,500 hospitalisations annually in children aged under 5 years old in the UK alone. It is estimated that 20,000 of those admissions are for children under 1, with RSV being responsible for around 20-30 infant deaths each year in the UK.
All pregnant women will be invited to have the vaccine once they reach 28 weeks of pregnancy. Full details will be available from Community Midwives and Antenatal Clinics.