The NHS in Lincolnshire is urging pregnant women and the elderly to have the Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccine (also known as RSV).
RSV causes respiratory illness and can be severe for infants and older adults. It often leads to pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis, sometimes requiring hospital care.
The vaccine is offered in every pregnancy from 28 weeks, ideally at the 28-week antenatal appointment.
People aged 75-79 or those who turned 80 after 1 September 2024 should also get the RSV vaccine. Invitations will be sent out to those not yet vaccinated.
RSV is a common cause of coughs and colds. Most people get it several times during their life.
It usually gets better by itself, but in some people (especially babies and older adults) it can cause illnesses such as:
“RSV is most common in winter, from October to February,” says Kerrie Linger, Assistant Locality Lead – Vaccination Team, NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board. “While mild for many, RSV hospitalises around 30,000 children under five each year and causes 20 to 30 infant deaths.”
Babies under one year old face the highest risk. Their small airways and low immunity make severe RSV lung infections more likely.
If you are aged 75 to 79.
You are urged to get the RSV vaccine. Invitations will be sent out to those not yet vaccinated.
If you are aged 80 or over.
If you turned 80 after 1st September 2024, you are eligible for the RSV vaccine until 31st August 2025.
You are not eligible for the RSV vaccine if you turned 80 on or before 1st September 2024.
You should be offered the RSV vaccine around the time of your 28-week antenatal appointment.
Getting vaccinated as soon as possible from 28 weeks will provide the best protection for your baby. But the vaccine can be given later if needed, including up until you go into labour.
Speak to your maternity service or GP surgery if you’re 28 weeks pregnant or more and have not been offered the vaccine.
Contact your GP surgery to book your RSV vaccination.
Your GP surgery may contact you about getting the RSV vaccine. This may be by letter, text, phone call or email.
You do not need to wait to be contacted before booking your vaccination.
In both cases the RSV vaccine is given as an injection into your upper arm.
If you would like further information on the Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine, such as how it is given, any side effects, or if you cannot be given the vaccine for medical reasons, follow this link to the NHS website.
