Since the health service launched its groundbreaking respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine campaign in the autumn, more than one million people have benefitted.
New data indicates that NHS staff have delivered nearly 1.05 million jabs, as the health service continues its efforts to avoid a tripledemic of:
- Covid-19
- Flu
- RSV
Hospitalisation prevention
“It’s a testament to the hard work of NHS staff that there’s been over a million RSV jabs delivered to those who need them, as vaccination and maternity teams across the country have worked to make it as easy as possible for those eligible to get the life-saving jab,” explained Steve Russell, NHS England’s national director for vaccinations and screening.
NHSE hopes its RSV programme can prevent 5,000 hospitalisations and 15,000 infant A&E attendances.
Since the start of September, pregnant women and those aged between 75 and 79 have been offered vaccinations.
The health service similarly believes that the first season of its catch up programme for older adults could prevent around 2,500 hospital admissions, 15,000 GP visits and 60,000 RSV illnesses.
Easing pressures
President at the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, Dr Adrian Boyle, said: “As well as protecting the most vulnerable, this will help ease the spike in admission experienced in our A&E departments over winter, which are already under huge strain.”
Professor Steve Turner, president at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, added: “The newly available RSV maternal vaccination is expected to prevent thousands of serious chest infections in babies, to even save lives and will reduce the huge surge in admissions to hospitals we see every winter.
“So having this vaccine is important for babies, and their families and our NHS. A reduction in RSV cases will allow child health staff to focus on children and young people with other conditions requiring urgent hospital admissions during these busy winter months.”
Image credit: iStock
