The maternity team at The Great Western Hospital have announced that they have now vaccinated over 1000 women and pregnant people against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) this winter.
RSV is a common virus which can cause a lung infection called bronchiolitis. In small babies this condition can make it hard to breathe and to feed. Most cases can be managed at home but around 20,000 infants are admitted to hospital with bronchiolitis each year in England.
Infants with severe bronchiolitis may need intensive care and the infection can be fatal. RSV is more likely to be serious in very young babies, those born prematurely, and those with conditions that affect their heart, breathing or immune system.
RSV infections can occur all year round, but cases peak every winter. The best way to protect a baby against RSV infection is to have the vaccine during pregnancy.
The vaccine boosts the immune system to produce more antibodies against the virus. These antibodies then pass through the placenta to help protect the baby from the day they are born. RSV vaccination reduces the risk of severe bronchiolitis by 70% in the first 6 months of life. After this age a baby is at much lower risk of severe RSV. The vaccine has been shown to reduce the chance of your baby suffering from severe RSV disease.
Pregnant people should be offered the vaccine around the time of their 28 week antenatal appointment. Having the vaccine in week 28 or within a few weeks of this will help to build a good level of antibodies to pass on to the baby before birth. This will give the baby the best protection, including if they are born early. Pregnant people can still have the vaccine later in their pregnancy but it may be less effective.
For more information, visit: @RSVVaccine
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