Please call 01392 255722 to book your Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination.
What is RSV?
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major respiratory virus that is most common over the winter period. While the symptoms are mild for many, RSV accounts for around 30,000 hospitalisations of children under 5 in the UK annually.
RSV can also be severe in older adults, causing pneumonia and flare-ups of existing lung disease and other long-term conditions.
Who is at risk?
RSV can be especially dangerous for infants and the elderly.
RSV is most common in infants under 1 year old. Babies are particularly vulnerable to RSV lung infections as they have small airways and have limited immunity against the virus which can lead to a condition called bronchiolitis that causes inflammation in the lung.
Infants with severe bronchiolitis may need intensive care and the infection can be fatal. Older adults can also be at risk of severe RSV lung infections, and the virus is a cause of illness and mortality in people aged 75 years and older.
What are the symptoms?
RSV may cause a cough or a cold, wheezing, shortness of breath, tiredness and fever. Most cases are not serious and clear up within 2 to 3 weeks. You can find out more about the symptoms of RSV on the NHS website.
RSV can also cause bronchiolitis in infants, which can make it difficult to breathe and feed. RSV bronchiolitis symptoms may include difficult, fast or noisy breathing and being unsettled or difficult to comfort.
RSV Vaccination
From September 2024 pregnant women at week 28 or later and everyone aged 75 to 79 will be offered a vaccine to protect themselves or their babies against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Older adults must be aged 75 years old on or before the date of their vaccination. If you are 74 years old or younger on the date of your vaccination then please call us on 01392 255722.
Please Note! You will not be able to have an RSV vaccination in conjunction with other vaccines. If you have an appointment booked for a Flu vaccination then please ensure it is booked for at least a week before or after your RSV vaccination.
Is more than one dose of RSV vaccine needed?
Pregnant women should have the RSV vaccine in every pregnancy – this will give your new baby the best protection.
In older adults, a single dose is expected to give good protection for a few years. A single dose of vaccine will help to boost protection as you reach an age group at highest risk of serious RSV infection.
How will I be contacted?
We will contact all eligible patients via SMS message, phone call, email, or letter.
Patients who have consented to receiving SMS messages will be sent a link to book their appointment online.
Please Note! If you have opted-out from receiving SMS messages, you will still be invited for a vaccination, but your invitation may take longer to arrive, as it will come via email, phone call, or letter.
What dates can I book an appointment?
We are running a number of clinics in Autumn 2024. Please contact the surgery on 01392 255722 to book an appointment.
Please call 01392 255722 to book your Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination.
Page created: 30th August 2024
Page updated: 26th September 2024