Older people and pregnant women will be offered a vaccine on the NHS to protect against a respiratory virus that can cause serious complications. From September, anyone aged 75 and over (as of September 1) will be offered one dose of Pfizer’s jab Abrysvo to protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The NHS in England is being urged to vaccinate as many people as possible in September and October before winter starts and RSV circulates more widely.
All women who are at least 28 weeks pregnant on September 1 will also be offered a single dose of the vaccine to protect themselves and their babies. Going forward, all women will become eligible for a vaccine once they reach 28 weeks of pregnancy. READ MORE: New service offered to Northern Lincolnshire patients with blood conditions that cuts down their hospital stays Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from Grimsby with our free newsletter RSV – in the same virus family as the human parainfluenza viruses and mumps and measles viruses - is one of the common viruses that cause coughs and colds in winter.
RSV is transmitted by large droplets and by secretions from contact with an infected person, and causes infections of the lungs and respiratory tract. In healthy adults and older children, it typically causes cold-like symptoms. However, babies are at risk of severe infection with RSV and can need admission to hospital, particularly in the winter months.
Similarly, premature babies, older a.
