Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health, is encouraging pregnant women to contact their GP or maternity service to schedule a vaccination for RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus).

Infants needing hospital treatment

Available from 28 weeks of pregnancy, the RSV vaccination helps prevent lung infections like bronchiolitis that leave 20,000 infants needing hospital treatment each year.

Most children catch RSV in the first two years of their lives, but because it usually  only causes mild, cold-like symptoms, many people are unaware of it. However, for some it can lead to severe lung infections like pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis that make it difficult for young babies to breathe.

Main cause of winter pressures

Margaret Jones, Sefton Council’s Director of Public Health, said: “RSV is the main cause of winter pressures in children’s hospitals with around 20,000 hospitalisations in children under the age of one each year in the UK.

“And the vast majority of those cases can be avoided by the simple immunisation. This protects your baby from the day they are by boosting your immune system to produce more antibodies against the virus and passing them on.”

Risk reduced by 70% in first six months

Having the vaccine reduces the risk of severe bronchiolitis by 70% in the first six months of life.

The NHS is rolling out the vaccine nationally and encouraging women who are 28 weeks pregnant or more to speak to their maternity team or GP about getting vaccinated. Older people aged 75 to 79, who can also be vulnerable to RSV, should also come forward for the vaccination as soon as they are invited by their GP.

Set yourself a reminder

Mrs Jones added: “If you have reached the 28th week of your pregnancy, talk to your GP or maternity service now to schedule yours and if you have not reached the 28th week yet, set yourself a reminder to do so.

“You could be saving your baby from a stay in hospital.”

You can find out more about RSV here.