UK maternal RSV vaccine program halves newborn ICU admissions

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reported a 50 per cent reduction in intensive care unit (ICU) and higher dependency unit (HDU) admissions for infants under six months old with confirmed respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in England.

Data from 20 NHS trusts participating in the surveillance program shows that 63 infants were admitted during the 2025-26 winter season, compared to 131 admissions during the 2024-25 period. This decline follows the implementation of a maternal vaccination program designed to protect newborns by boosting the mother's immune system.

Between March 2025 and February 2026, 61.7 per cent of women giving birth received the RSV vaccine. The vaccine is offered to women from 28 weeks of pregnancy to mitigate the risk of severe illness, such as bronchiolitis, which can cause breathing and feeding difficulties in infants.