Appeal to pregnant mothers to ‘act now’ on RSV vaccination

England’s chief midwifery officer has issued an appeal to eligible pregnant mothers to get vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) ahead of this winter, as the number of cases continues to rise.

Pregnant women from 28 weeks can access the RSV vaccine through their maternity service or local GP practice.

Around 100 community pharmacies in the East of England and the Midlands are also now delivering the RSV vaccine, with plans to expand this by up to 150 additional pharmacies, particularly in areas where access is limited.

RSV is a leading cause of infant mortality worldwide and hospitalisation among young children.

Last winter, children with RSV in England accounted for almost 7,000 bed days, according to NHS England.

The Australian winter – considered a good predictor of how viruses will spread in England – saw its highest number of RSV cases on record last year, the body warned.

Following this pattern, cases have been steadily increasing in England since the start of 2025, with almost half of RSV cases occurring in children aged 0 to four years.

Older adults aged 75 to 79 are also eligible for the RSV vaccine. UK Health Security Agency research has found the vaccine to be around 82% effective in preventing hospitalisation in older people and 72% effective in preventing hospitalisation for newborns whose mothers are vaccinated at least 14 days before delivery.

Chief midwifery officer for NHS England, Kate Brintworth, said: ‘While for most adults RSV only causes mild, cold like symptoms, for older adults and young children it can lead to serious breathing problems that can end up in hospitalisation.

‘Getting vaccinated while pregnant is the best way to protect your baby from the moment they are born, and now is the time for mums to act, to make sure their babies are protected ahead of their first few months this winter, when there tends to be more bugs circulating.’

NHS England will also be rolling out nirsevimab, a one-off injection, from late September for eligible high-risk and very preterm babies who are not protected by the maternal RSV vaccine.

However, there are no current plans to make it available in GP practices or pharmacies.

Nursing in Practice spoke with chief midwifery officer Ms Brintworth earlier this year about the unique role and impact of midwives working in community settings.

A version of this article was first published by our sister title The Pharmacist