This short video gives information on how to protect your baby from RSV through vaccination in pregnancy.
Today we’re going to talk about something important for expecting parents the RSV vaccine during pregnancy respiratory syncytial virus or RSV is a common virus that can cause lung infections in babies making it harder for them to breathe and feed many cases can be managed at home around 20,000 babies are admitted to hospital with lung infections caused by this virus every year in England but there’s good news a vaccine is available to help protect your baby from RSV right from birth RSV is more likely to be serious in very young babies those born prematurely and those with conditions that affect their heart breathing or immune system to help protect your baby it has been recommended since September 2024 that pregnant people get the RSV vaccine between 28 and up to 36 weeks of pregnancy a small number of babies in the UK may be offered an RSV antibody injection at birth babies who are at higher risk of RSV may receive this injection in addition to any antibodies they receive from their mother during pregnancy so my midwife advised me to have the RSV vaccine because it’s beneficial for me and the baby because it protect my baby when you get the RSV vaccine during pregnancy your body makes antibodies that are passed to your baby through the placenta these antibodies help protect your baby from the RSV during the first few months of life they also offer you protection from RSC infection but it is primarily given to protect young babies many thousands of pregnant women have now had the RSV vaccine around the world the RSV vaccine has been approved by the medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency MH and meets the MH’s strict standards of safety and effectiveness studies show that the RSV vaccine can reduce the chances of severe RSV illness in babies by up to 82% within the first 3 months after birth the RSV vaccine cannot prevent all cases of RSV however the vaccine can reduce the severity of the infection particularly within the first 6 months which is when babies are most at risk of severe RSV the vaccine is safe and can be given along with other recommended vaccines during pregnancy like the flu and hooping cough like any vaccine the RSC vaccine can have side effects but they are usually mild and go away on their own within a day or two the most common side effects include pain at the injection site headache muscle pain and mild nausea talk to your midwife or GP about RSV vaccine how it can help protect your baby and how you can book to have your vaccine in pregnancy.