Expectant mothers in the South West of England are being urged by NHS leaders to receive the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine at 28 weeks of pregnancy to protect newborn infants from severe lung infections. The region currently leads the UK with a 72.5% vaccine take-up rate, according to public health data.
RSV Vaccination Rollout at 28 Weeks
Health officials in the South West are actively encouraging pregnant women to accept the immunization when patients reach 28 weeks. Amanda Pritchard, a clinical supervisor with the vaccination team at Royal Cornwall Hospital, stated that information leaflets and invitations are sent out when patients reach 28 weeks. Pritchard noted that while the region boasts strong participation, some hesitation still exists because many people remain unfamiliar with the virus.
Respiratory syncytial virus typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms in adults. However, infants who contract the infection frequently experience dangerous breathing and feeding complications that require hospital care. Lynne Hall, a member of the NHS Cornwall vaccination team, described infant RSV infections as severe and traumatic for families who see young babies connected to medical tubing.
Clinical Impact and Regional Uptake Rates
Government figures show that 72% of pregnant women in the South West accept the RSV vaccine, surpassing the national average of 62%. The highest localized uptake reaches 77.8% on the Isles of Scilly. NHS data indicates that the immunization reduces infant hospitalizations from RSV by 85%. Across England, approximately 104,000 hospital admissions were estimated to have been avoided last winter, despite 36 recorded deaths in children under 18 from the virus.
Alongside the RSV vaccine, healthcare providers are administering seasonal influenza jabs to expectant mothers during the same clinical visits. Dr Julie Frier, a consultant in public health and screening and immunisation lead for NHS England South West, emphasized that influenza poses serious risks during pregnancy, making simultaneous protection essential for both mother and child.