Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is a group of experts in the UK that advises the Government on vaccines and immunisation. In September 2023, the JCVI recommended developing an RSV immunisation programme for infants and older adults. 

The RSV programme is a new programme that will protect thousands of infants and older people from serious illness each winter, keeping more people out of hospital and from needing to see a GP. 

The vaccination could save 1,000 young children every year in Wales from going to hospital and could save the lives of over 100 older people each year.   

There are now safe and effective vaccines available and it has been recommended that an RSV immunisation programme be planned across all nations of the UK. 
 

What is RSV? 

RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is a common winter virus, which almost all children have had by the time they are two years old. It is common for older children and adults to have the virus again.  

For most people, RSV causes a mild illness, such as a cough or cold. However, babies under one year of age and older adults are at risk of becoming very unwell. Sometimes, people who get ill from RSV infection need to go to hospital. RSV can be more dangerous for some people, especially those with certain health conditions. It may even cause death. 

Illness due to RSV has a big impact on the NHS during winter months. In the UK, around 33,500 children under the age of five end up in hospital because of the virus. The number of people going to hospital because of RSV has increased in the last 20 years.
 

Community Vaccination Clinics

A list of Community Vaccination Clinics can be found here: Vaccination Pop-up Clinics - Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. 

We have now started delivering of the vaccine, for more information, please head to Public Health Wales: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination information - Public Health Wales (nhs.wales)