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Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a virus which causes respiratory infections, mostly affecting the lungs and airways. It is one of the most common causes of colds and coughs in winter in the UK. It results in hundreds of thousands of infections each year. Most RSV infections lead to mild illness, but infants under one year of age, and the elderly, have the highest risk of experiencing more severe illness. There are between 20 to 30 deaths in the UK each year. Infants aged less than six months frequently develop diseases such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia (lung infections), which make it hard for them to breathe, and may result in hospitalisation. From 1st September 2024, vaccination against RSV is available in the UK for pregnant people who are at least 28 weeks pregnant to protect their babies during the first six months of their lives, and for older adults aged from 75 to 79 years. It is not possible to vaccinate newborn babies against RSV. But if their mothers are vaccinated during pregnancy, the antibodies they make pass across the placenta to the baby to provide protection for the first six months after they are born. The best window for maternal vaccination is from 28 weeks to 36 weeks of pregnancy, although it is still worth vaccinating up until birth. A single dose of a vaccine called Abrysvo will be offered to those who are eligible. Abrysvo is a non-live vaccine. This means it cannot cause the disease it protects against.
Vaccines Explained: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/Eg71x7QXEfY?wmode=opaque&controls=&rel=0
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RSV vaccine
Vaccine
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In the UK, adults turning 75 years of age on or after 1 September 2024 can get a single dose of the RSV vaccine. A one-off catch-up campaign for those who are already 75 to 79 years of age on 1 September 2024 will be undertaken as soon as possible. Individuals will remain eligible until the day before their 80th birthday, except for people who turn 80 years of age in the first year of the programme, who have until 31 August 2025 to get vaccinated. All women who are at least 28 weeks pregnant 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 of their child. The nearer to 28 weeks that vaccination takes place, the better the protection offered, especially for babies that go on to be born prematurely. To ensure the best protection before the peak RSV season starts, GPs will vaccinate as many people as possible during September and October 2024. However, the vaccination will be offered all year round. |
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Abrysvo is the RSV vaccine used in the UK for both older adults and pregnant people. The vaccine has been tested extensively in clinical trials with over 17,000 people over the age of 60 and 4,000 pregnant women to demonstrate it is safe and works well. It has already been used in the USA in over 100,000 pregnant women. As with any medicine, there is a chance of side-effects. Very common side effects that may affect more than 1 in 10 people:
Common side effects that may affect up to 1 in 10 people:
Rare side effects that may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people:
Very rare side effects that may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people
Other RSV vaccines are used in different countries. If you were vaccinated outside of the UK, ask your healthcare provider which vaccine you received. As with any vaccine, medicine or food, there is a very small chance of a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). Anaphylaxis is different from less severe allergic reactions because it causes life-threatening breathing and/or circulation problems. It is always extremely serious but can be treated with adrenaline. Health care workers who give vaccines know how to do this. In the UK between 1997 and 2003 there was a total of 130 reports of anaphylaxis following ALL immunisations. Around 117 million doses of vaccines were given in the UK during this period. This means that the overall rate of anaphylaxis is around 1 in 900,000. If you are concerned about any reactions that occur after vaccination, consult your doctor. In the UK you can report suspected vaccine side effects to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) through the Yellow Card Scheme. You can also contact the MHRA to ask for data on Yellow Card reports for individual vaccines. See more information on the Yellow Card scheme and monitoring of vaccine safety. |
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Other than the active ingredients, Abrysvo contains:
Other vaccines used outside of the UK may contain different ingredients. |
