NHS Column: The first RSV vaccine is a key addition to make use of this winter

By Dr Dave Briggs
Published 6th Sep 2024, 00:00 BST
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​Every winter, the NHS urges eligible people to get vaccinated to protect themselves from falling seriously unwell over the colder months when nasty viruses spread more easily, writes Dr Dave Briggs, medical director at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

​This year, on top of the usual flu and COVID-19 vaccine programmes, the NHS has launched a new vaccine programme – the RSV vaccine.

RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus which affects an estimated 64 million people and causes 160,000 deaths worldwide each year.

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It is spread through contact with droplets from the nose and throat of infected people when they cough and sneeze.

​Dr Dave Briggs, medical director at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.​Dr Dave Briggs, medical director at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
​Dr Dave Briggs, medical director at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

The UK is the first country in the world to offer a vaccine programme for this virus, which is aimed at pregnant women and people aged over 75.

Despite infecting around 90 per cent of children within the first two years of life, RSV is relatively unknown among the public.

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.

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"We know that people are tired of hearing about vaccinations, but they are still very important and as public immunity fades it means that it is more important than ever that those who are most vulnerable top it up", says Dr Dave Briggs, medical director at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire."We know that people are tired of hearing about vaccinations, but they are still very important and as public immunity fades it means that it is more important than ever that those who are most vulnerable top it up", says Dr Dave Briggs, medical director at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
"We know that people are tired of hearing about vaccinations, but they are still very important and as public immunity fades it means that it is more important than ever that those who are most vulnerable top it up", says Dr Dave Briggs, medical director at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Each year in the UK, RSV accounts for around 30,000 hospitalisations in children aged under five and is responsible for 20 to 30 infant deaths.

It also causes around 9,000 hospital admissions in those aged over 75.

I wanted to highlight the importance of this new programme because the RSV programme could free up thousands of hospital beds and help to avoid hundreds of deaths each year, but it will only work if people take up the offer.

People aged 75 to 79 years old on September 1, 2024, will be invited to receive their RSV vaccination with their GP, and those turning 75 after this date will also receive an invitation from their GP once eligible.

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Women that are at least 28 weeks pregnant should speak to their maternity service or GP surgery to get the vaccine to protect their baby.

This winter, the NHS will also be encouraging eligible people to get their flu and Covid vaccinations.

We know that people are tired of hearing about vaccinations, but they are still very important and as public immunity fades it means that it is more important than ever that those who are most vulnerable top it up.

These vaccination programmes will save lives and significantly reduce the burden on the NHS during the challenging winter months ahead.

You can find out more about all these vaccination programmes on the local NHS website - notts.icb.nhs.uk/your-health/vaccinations

Related topics:NHSNottinghamshirePeople