A UK-wide maternal RSV vaccination programme has halved intensive care admissions for infants under six months, offering promising signs of effectiveness in protecting newborns from severe respiratory infections during their first winter season.
The introduction of the maternal RSV vaccination programme in the UK appears to be sharply reducing the most serious cases in babies. UK Health Security Agency analysis published this month found that intensive care and high-dependency admissions for infants under six months with confirmed RSV infection fell by about half in the 2025-26 winter compared with the previous year, a decline officials described as a strong sign the programme is working.
The data came from 20 NHS trusts participating in UKHSA surveillance. Those trusts recorded 63 babies under six months admitted to intensive care or high dependency with RSV in the 2025-26 season, down from 131 in 2024-25. RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, can trigger bronchiolitis, a chest infection that causes swelling in the small airways and can leave infants struggling to breathe and feed.
The vaccine programme began in September 2024 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and in August 2024 in Scotland. Pregnant women are offered the jab from 28 weeks onwards, with the aim of passing protective antibodies to the baby before birth. UKHSA figures show that 62% of women in England who gave birth between March 2025 and February 2026 had received the vaccine during pregnancy. Earlier UKHSA research, reported in April, found the jab offers more than 80% protection for newborns against hospital admission, including babies born prematurely, when given in good time before delivery.
NHS vaccination director Caroline Temmink said the findings meant “dozens of new-borns have potentially avoided being admitted to intensive care” after their mothers were vaccinated. UKHSA immunisation consultant Conall Watson said RSV can still cause severe illness outside the winter months and urged pregnant women over 28 weeks to seek the vaccine. He said the product has “an excellent safety profile” in UK and international monitoring, as health officials continue to press for higher uptake and earlier vaccination in pregnancy.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
