Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine for pregnant women
Pregnant women in Northern Ireland can have a free vaccine in each pregnancy, to protect their babies against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus which can cause a lung infection called bronchiolitis.
In young babies this condition can make it hard to breathe and to feed.
In most cases, it can be managed at home, but some infants may need to be admitted to hospital.
Infants with severe bronchiolitis may need intensive care and the infection can be fatal.
RSV is more likely to be serious in:
- very young babies
- those born prematurely
- those with conditions that affect their heart, lungs or immune system
RSV infections can occur all year round but peaks every winter.
Getting vaccinated
You should be offered the RSV vaccine around the time of your 28-week antenatal appointment.
The vaccine will be offered at the HSC Trust where you are receiving your antenatal care.
Speak to your midwife if you have not yet been offered the vaccine.
Having the vaccine in week 28,or within a few weeks of this, will help you build a good level of immunity to pass on to your baby before birth. This will give your baby the best protection, including if they are born prematurely (early).
You can still have the vaccine later in your pregnancy but it may be less effective. It can be given right up until you have your baby.
If you have it very late in pregnancy, it may still protect you from infection and reduce the risk of you spreading infection to your newborn baby.
You should have the RSV vaccine in every pregnancy to give your new baby the best protection.
Booking a vaccine
For booking information within your Trust, see the link below, or speak to your midwife:
Other vaccines
It is important to have your vaccines at the right time in pregnancy.
The whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine is usually given earlier in pregnancy (around the time of the mid-pregnancy scan, between 16 and 20 weeks).
You should have your RSV vaccine once you are 28 weeks pregnant.
The flu vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy. You should have it as soon as it is available to you.
When you are called for your RSV vaccine, if you have not yet had your whooping cough or flu vaccines, then you should have them at the same time.
Importance of the vaccine
There is no other way to protect your baby from RSV unless your baby is considered very high risk. It’s much safer for you to have the vaccination than to risk your newborn baby catching RSV.
RSV is a leading cause of infant mortality globally, resulting in 20 to 30 deaths per year in the UK.
Having vaccines in pregnancy has been studied and no evidence of risk has been found.
Getting vaccinated during pregnancy provides antibodies that will be passed to the baby so he or she has some protection during the first few weeks of life when RSV is most serious.
The vaccine may also provide protective effects from antibody transfer in breastfed babies.