UK launches life-saving RSV immunisation for premature babies

Ahead of winters, the UK is preparing to immunize babies that were born before 32 weeks and children with heart and lung conditions.

The National Health Service (NHS) has announced that thousands of premature babies in the UK will now receive a life-saving injection to protect them from a dangerous winter virus.

Starting from late September, approximately 9,000 vulnerable infants including premature infants and children with heart or lung conditions will be given a drug, Nirsevimab, a vaccine that provides immediate, six-month protection against respiratory syncytial virus also known as RSV.

Why does it matter?

RSV is a common virus causing mild colds but can lead to severe bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and even death in vulnerable babies. Premature infants usually have low immunity and are 3X more likely to get sick and 10X more likely to need intensive care than full-term babies.

Each year, RSV affects about 30,000 UK children under the age of five and approximately 30 die.

Symptoms of RSV

The most common symptoms of RSV are:

-- Runny nose

-- Fever

-- Cough

-- Short periods without breathing (apnea)

-- Trouble eating, drinking, or swallowing

-- Wheezing

-- Flaring of the nostrils or straining of the chest or stomach while breathing

-- Breathing faster than normal, or trouble breathing

How does immunization work?

Nirsevimab is clinically proven to be 80% effective and provides immediate protection unlike alternative vaccines which take weeks to build immunity. It will be administered in neonatal clinics and to high-risk infants under medical advice.

Last year, the NHS introduced an RSV vaccine for pregnant women (28+ weeks) but since premature babies are born at fewer than 37 weeks they may not be able to develop immunity in the womb. Thus, such babies miss out on maternal antibodies making this new jab critical.

Dr. Claire Fuller, NHS England’s co-national medical director stated that the injection will “shield babies from harm” and reduce winter hospitalizations.