North Yorkshire GP's urge pregnant women to take up RSV vaccine
The programme is being rolled out from today
Pregnant women in North Yorkshire are being urged to get the RSV vaccine to protect their baby.
The jab is being rolled out from today and is also available to those aged 75 - 79.
Brian McGregor is a GP from York: "RSV is a real problem over the Winter particularly for young children and particularly for the elderly. It rivals flu for infections of people admitted to hospital."
"People already have pneumonia vaccine as they get older, they already have the flu vaccine which we recommend every year and we're now recommending the RSV."
"If you get an invitation please attend, it's about trying to reduce that Winter demand and trying to reduce the strain on the whole system both secondary and primary care through the Winter but it's also about protecting children because they are the ones who suffer the most from this."
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an enveloped RNA virus, in the same family as the human parainfluenza viruses and mumps and measles viruses. RSV is one of the common viruses that cause coughs and colds in winter. RSV is transmitted by large droplets and by secretions from contact with an infected person.
Infants under one year of age and the elderly are at the greatest risk of developing severe disease. While most RSV infections usually cause mild illness, infants aged less than 6 months frequently develop the most severe disease such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia, which may result in hospitalisation.
From 1 September 2024, 2 new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programmes will be introduced:
Programme for older adults aged 75 to 79 years old
All adults turning 75 years old on or after 1 September 2024 will be eligible for the routine programme and should be offered a single dose of the RSV vaccine. A one-off catch-up campaign for those already aged 75 to 79 years old on 1 September 2024 will be undertaken at the earliest opportunity.
Programme for pregnant women to protect infants
All women who are at least 28 weeks pregnant (the eligible cohort) on 1 September 2024, will be offered a single dose of the RSV vaccine. After that, pregnant women will become eligible as they reach 28 weeks gestation and remain eligible up to birth.