Study shows new RSV vaccine for pregnant women could prevent 5,000 infant hospitalisations a year

The UK Health Security Agency and Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation are highlighting the benefits that the new RSV vaccination programme is expected to bring following its introduction from September.

The UK Health Security Agency and Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation are highlighting the benefits that the new RSV vaccination programme is expected to bring following its introduction from September.

A recent detailed analysis estimated that the new programme launching in England this autumn could typically prevent 5,000 hospitalisations and 15,000 emergency department attendances for infants.

The study bases its estimates on the assumption that uptake among pregnant women will be around 60%. It also estimated that the maternal programme could mean 70,000 fewer RSV illnesses in infants under 12 months, 20,000 fewer GP consultations and avoid more than 200 infants being admitted to intensive care units.

Despite infecting around 90% of children within the first 2 years of life, RSV is not something that many people are aware of. It typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms. However, it can lead to severe lung infections like pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis and is a leading cause of infant mortality globally.

RSV illness is the main cause of winter pressures in children’s hospitals each year leading to pressure on paediatric intensive care units, including cancelled operations. It accounts for approximately 20,000 hospitalisations in children under 1 and is responsible for 20 to 30 infant deaths a year in the UK.

The UKHSA continues to work rapidly with NHS colleagues to ensure an effective roll out of the two new programmes and will also monitor the impact of the programmes through its routine national surveillance.

Professor Dame Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said:

“These two new RSV vaccine programmes - one for pregnant women and another for older adults as they turn 75 - offer huge opportunities to prevent severe illness in those most vulnerable to RSV, helping to protect lives as well as ease NHS winter pressures.

“UKHSA has provided critical scientific information to evidence the benefits of a national RSV immunisation programme and so the rollout of the vaccine is a truly positive moment for the public’s health. I urge all those eligible, to take up the offer when the programmes begin in September.”

With the RSV vaccine available from 1 September 2024 in England, a mother from Bath, Alice Cook, whose daughter Henrietta became seriously ill from the virus, is urging pregnant women to get vaccinated and ensure they give the best protection to their newborns at a time when they are most at risk from RSV.  

Alice said: “At 3 weeks old, Henrietta caught a cold from her older sister, which gradually began to get worse. By day 5, she was still struggling with a cough and a fever, and I noticed that she was working really hard to breathe.

“I decided to take her to A&E where she was quickly assessed. The consultant was called and was very worried about her condition. A blood gas reading was taken and within minutes she was being given high flow oxygen through tubes in her nose. She also had a tube passed into her tummy as she was too exhausted to feed. This meant that I had to pump milk for the nursing staff to give to her via her tube throughout the night. I felt helpless.”

“Thankfully the next day she stabilised, but it was a long 4 days ahead until she was well enough to come off oxygen and establish feeding again. I felt so tired and emotional; it was awful not even being able to cuddle Henrietta because of all of the tubes attached to her. As there is no medication you can give for RSV, I felt helpless and it really was a waiting game of whether she would recover.

“Nine months on, Henrietta is now a happy and healthy baby, but those first few weeks of her life were incredibly tough, and not how I pictured the newborn bubble to be.

“I would encourage all pregnant women to take up the RSV vaccine when offered. Henrietta being in hospital was so scary and I wouldn’t wish any other family to go through what we did.”

While RSV infections can occur all year round, cases usually peak every winter around December, so it’s important that those eligible take up the offer as soon as possible when invited by the NHS from September.

Dame Jenny Harries added: “Having the vaccine during every pregnancy is the best way to protect your baby against RSV, as the vaccine boosts your immune system to produce more antibodies against the virus, and these then pass through the placenta to help protect your baby from the day they are born. The vaccine reduces the risk of severe bronchiolitis by 70% in the first six months of life.

“The RSV vaccine is the safest way to protect you and your baby. It has been approved by medicines regulators in the UK, Europe and the USA. Many thousands of women have had the vaccine in other countries, including more than 100,000 women in the USA.”

Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, said:

“Maternal vaccinations are crucial to protect newborns from life-threatening illnesses like RSV.

“Sadly my grandson caught RSV, just days after he was born. It led to weeks in intensive care and persistent, long-lasting health issues. I wouldn’t wish that on any family. This new vaccine programme offers us an opportunity to prevent similar trauma, helping stop thousands of hospitalisations while saving precious lives.

“I urge everyone eligible to get the vaccine. By doing so, you will provide protection from the first day of your baby’s life and safeguard your child’s future.”

Matthew Dominey, Consultant in Public Health, Screening and Immunisation lead, NHS England South West, said:

“RSV is a very serious illness, infecting up to 90% of children by the age of 2 and in thousands of cases causing babies and older people to need hospital treatment. This vaccine means this winter we will be able to offer older people and families the chance to protect themselves and their loved ones and we encourage those 75-79 year olds and women who are 28 weeks pregnant or more to come forward for a vaccine from September.

In addition to the maternal vaccine programme, a free RSV vaccine will be offered to all those turning 75 years on or after 1 September, along with a one-off campaign for those already aged 75-79 years.

The same modelling – using enhanced surveillance of older adult admissions - 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 this age group.