More than a million people have received a vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) following its rollout this autumn, with the jab predicted to reduce GP visits and hospitalisations.
Since 1 September, pregnant women and older adults aged 75 to 79 have been offered the vaccination as the NHS has sought to protect those who are most vulnerable to the virus, which is a leading cause of infant mortality.
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RSV infections are common but can be particularly dangerous to young children and older people as they can lead to severe lung infections like pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis.
A recent study in the Lancet showed that the RSV vaccination programme could prevent 5,000 hospitalisations and 15,000 A&E attendances for infants.
The same modelling also suggests that the first season of the older adult’s catch-up programme alone could prevent around 2,500 hospital admissions, 15,000 GP visits and 60,000 RSV illnesses in adults in the older age group.
According to NHS data, staff have delivered 1,047,208 RSV vaccinations in just over two months, with the service ramping up efforts to avoid a ‘tripledemic’ of Covid, flu and RSV this winter.
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Steve Russell, NHS national director for vaccinations and screening, said: ‘It’s a testament to the hard work of NHS staff that there’s been over a million RSV jabs delivered to those who need them, as vaccination and maternity teams across the country have worked to make it as easy as possible for those eligible to get the life-saving jab.
‘But we know there are still many more people eligible to come forward, and with RSV cases likely to peak during winter – alongside Covid and flu viruses – it’s vitally important that anyone eligible for these vaccinations takes up their offer as soon as possible when contacted by the NHS, to help avoid a ‘tripledemic’.’
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Earlier this month, public health officials warned of a rise in circulating levels of RSV, particularly in young children.
