The UK Health Security Agency has published its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) annual report. The data shows that around 50 per cent fewer infants under 6 months were admitted to intensive care with RSV disease in England.

Last winter (2025-26), in the 20 NHS trusts taking part in the surveillance there were 63 infants under 6 months age admitted to intensive care units (ICU) or higher dependency units (HDU) with confirmed RSV chest infection. The previous year, 2024-25, the same 20 trusts reported 131 aged under 6 months were admitted to ICU or HDU.

The vaccination is offered to women from 28 weeks of pregnancy to protect newborns, who are at higher risk of severe illness from RSV. In the 12 months from March 2025 to February 2026, 61.7% of women giving birth had received an RSV vaccine.

Dr Conall Watson, Immunisation Consultant at the UK Health Security Agency, said: "RSV causes a horrible chest infection – bronchiolitis – in babies, which can make it hard for them to breathe and feed. Some need life support in intensive care units while tens of thousands more need seen in A&E each year. No parent wants their new-born to go through this, when it is now preventable.

"Intensive care admissions have halved since the introduction of the maternal vaccine programme. A&E bronchiolitis attendances are also down. The RSV vaccine is highly effective and has an excellent safety profile in UK monitoring and internationally.

"You should be offered the vaccine by the NHS, but if you are past 28 weeks pregnancy and haven’t yet had it there is still time – it can help protect when given as little as ten days before birth, though longer is definitely better. Late summer and autumn babies are at highest risk from RSV so please contact your maternity service or GP practice to arrange your vaccination.

"The vaccine is recommended in every pregnancy to boosts the mother’s immune system to produce more antibodies against the virus. These then pass through the placenta to help protect the baby from the day they are born."

Secretary for State for Health and Social Care, Yvette Cooper said: "Maternity and child health needs to be at the heart of our NHS. I believe we need to do more to support mothers and improve children’s health – especially in those early years.

"The RSV vaccine, introduced by this government, saves lives and it is encouraging to see such a positive uptake. We want to see this effectively rolled out everywhere."