Starting Monday, a vaccination program to protect newborns and elderly people against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is being rolled out across England, Northern Ireland, and Wales following a similar program in Scotland. RSV is one of the common viruses that cause coughs and colds in the winter, but it can cause severe and life-threatening breathing difficulties. To prevent the spread of the virus, for the first time, pregnant women who are at least 28 weeks along with elderly people aged 75 to 79 will be offered the vaccine.
The UK vaccination program comes after Scotland began the vaccinations last month. The Minister for Public Health, Andrew Gwynne, launched the new jabs and said the vaccine is essential because RSV is preventable. Gwynne’s five-year-old grandson Lyle, who recovered after two weeks in intensive care with RSV as a baby, can attest to the severity of the virus. This experience moved Mr Gwynne to ensure that no other family should have to face the worry that he and his family experienced.
According to experts, RSV contributes to about 20,000 babies being hospitalized in England each year, and up to 30 infants die due to the illness. Over 90% of the world’s children catch the virus by the age of two, and it is the leading cause of chest problems such as bronchiolitis in infants. The virus doesn’t only affect babies, though. Elderly people are also susceptible, and the virus contributes to approximately 9,000 admissions for pneumonia each year.
Pediatrician Yasmin Baki, who works at University College London Hospital, said they see 500 patients each winter with RSV. She stated that RSV is potentially life-threatening for very young vulnerable babies that have other conditions, such as cardiac conditions or may have premature birth. Baki urges pregnant women to get vaccinated, and researchers found that the jab reduces the risk of severe lung infection by 70% for their babies in the initial six months of life. NHS England stated that a recent study in the Lancet suggests that the vaccination program could prevent 5,000 hospitalizations and 15,000 A&E attendances for infants, and 2,500 hospital admissions for older people this winter, which could alleviate pressures for front-line staff. The vaccine is called Abrysvo and is manufactured by Pfizer
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