RSV vaccine offered to Cork and Kerry babies as HSE programme enters final winter

Babies across Cork and Kerry will receive free RSV protection this winter, but the HSE has yet to confirm future funding

RSV is a common winter virus, but it can cause serious illness for babies, especially newborns. Picture: iStock

New mothers can get the RSV vaccine for their babies this winter at maternity hospitals and GP practices in Cork and Kerry, in what could be the final year of the free programme.

In April, Hiqa advised that immunisation against RSV is safe and effective, but also very expensive. It said the costs suggested by Sanofi/AstraZeneca need to be almost halved.