New HSE immunisation programme to protect newborn babies against RSV

The initiative will be offered free of charge to all newborns in maternity hospitals before they are discharged and has been approved by the European Medicines Agency.

A new HSE immunisation programme will aim to reduce the number of newborn babies that require hospitalisation as a result of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The programme will offer parents who give birth between September 1, 2024, and February 28, 2025, the chance to give their babies a new monoclonal antibody immunisation, which the HSE says is the best way to protect against RSV.

The rollout follows reports that four in 100 babies are hospitalised with the disease in Ireland each year, with some needing special treatment in intensive care units.

The initiative will be offered free of charge to all newborns in maternity hospitals before they are discharged and has been approved by the European Medicines Agency.

RSV is a highly contagious respiratory disease that infects the lungs and upper airways, and usually spreads in winter with its typical season running from October to March.

The risk of severe infection is highest in young infants, particularly those born during the RSV season.

Director of the HSE National Health Protection Office, Dr Éamonn O’Moore, says this is why they are offering immunisation to babies born within the time of the year when RSV is circulating.

“Each winter in Ireland one in two newborn babies will get RSV and many will need medical care from their GP or the emergency department of a children’s hospital,” Dr O’Moore said. 

“I would urge parents of all babies born in this period to take up the offer when the programme begins in September.” 

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The immunisation, known as nirsevimab is strongly recommended by the HSE and the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC), for all babies born in Ireland during the roll-out.

"Nirsevimab starts working as soon as the baby receives the injection and protects against RSV for 150 days, covering the very early period in a baby’s life when they are most vulnerable to serious RSV related illness," Dr O'Moore said. 

Along with protecting young babies, the immunisation scheme aims to manage a series of preventable hospital admissions caused by RSV-related illnesses.

It is estimated that the infant RSV programme in Ireland can avoid up to 453 hospitalisations and up to 48 ICU admissions, based on evidence from a similar programme implemented in Spain.

"Such programmes often serve as pilots or models that can be scaled up and replicated in other settings,” added Dr O’Moore.