The NHS will provide a protective injection for premature babies against RSV, which can lead to serious respiratory issues. The drug, nirsevimab, will be administered to 9,000 vulnerable infants starting in late September. Premature babies face a significantly higher risk of hospitalization and severe illness caused by RSV compared to full-term infants. The injection offers six months of protection with over 80% effectiveness. Families of at-risk infants will be guided by medical teams on how to access the jab before winter.
Every year around 30,000 children in the UK aged under five need hospital care because of RSV, and around 30 don't survive.
RSV usually causes coughs and colds, but can make some children very ill with breathing problems, pneumonia and a lung infection called bronchiolitis.
From late September, 9,000 babies and young children at risk across the UK will be offered a dose of the drug nirsevimab through the NHS.
Premature babies are three times more likely to go to hospital with RSV and are 10 times more likely to need intensive care compared with full-term babies.
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