RSV vaccine programme to be rolled out for newborns to prevent winter spike

Cases of RSV surged last winter, leading to the HSE advising parents to cocoon babies to help limit the spread. Picture: Stock

An RSV vaccination programme for newborns is to be rolled out in a bid to prevent hundreds of hospital and intensive care admissions this winter.

Parents will be encouraged to get their infants vaccinated against the respiratory condition before leaving maternity hospitals as part of the programme, which will see around 28,000 babies born between next September and February offered immunisation against what can be a deadly virus.