Children’s health: UK rollout of vaccine nirsevimab will save lives
In September, very premature babies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be offered vaccine nirsevimab to protect them from respiratory syncytial virus in preparation for winter. Respiratory syncytial virus is a cause of bronchiolitis, a common infection in children aged under two. The new vaccine will protect babies for six months and will also be offered to eligible vulnerable infants and children who have weakened immune systems, lung or heart conditions. Its rollout is hoped to reduce the number of babies being hospitalised.
The rollout of vaccine nirsevimab protecting very premature babies from respiratory syncytial virus will hopefully reduce the number of babies hospitalised
Very premature babies are to be offered a vaccine to protect them from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in preparation for winter.
The vaccine nirsevimab is due to be rolled out from later this month (September) across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in a bid to reduce the number of babies being hospitalised. It will be made available to babies born under 32 weeks who are born too early to get protection from their vaccinated mothers.
RSV is a cause of bronchiolitis, a common infection in children aged under two. The new vaccine will protect babies for six months. It is also to be offered to eligible vulnerable infants and children who have weakened immune systems, lung or heart conditions.
About 30,000 children in England are hospitalised with respiratory syncytial virus each year
Nirsevimab is given as a single injection and NHS organisations say it offers 80% protection. It will be administered from late September to February and will replace monthly injections of palivizumab which has been offered to a smaller number of vulnerable babies.
‘This new medication will provide vulnerable infants with their own suit of armour that protects against what can be a life-threatening infection’
John Stewart, director of specialised commissioning, NHS England
NHS England says that about 30,000 children under five years are hospitalised with RSV and it causes about 30 infant deaths in the UK each year.
NHS England director of specialised commissioning John Stewart said: ‘For babies born very prematurely, the risk of contracting RSV in their first winter is high and extremely serious.
‘This new medication will provide vulnerable infants with their own suit of armour that protects against what can be a life-threatening infection.’
The news follows the announcement of the death of a child attributed to measles in north west England which underlines how important vaccination is and the nurse’s critical role in improving vaccine uptake.
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