RSV Vaccinations

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My DS is now nearly 10 months, 7 corrected as he was very early. He has so far had a cold which is now on its 7th week, and we've taken him to A+E twice with brochiolitus although he has not been admitted for oxygen, so far.

Anyway my DH has been looking into this has discovered the WHO recommend that babies his age, especially of his gestation, are vaccinated against RSV but the RSV vaccine is not now available on the NHS even for prems so he wants to ask whether anyone knows where or how we can go about getting it either by convincing the NHS or by getting it privately?

i am sorry i dont know much except rsv nearly took my little sons life- when i was in the hospital there was a little baby who did not have RSV but had had a heart operation and the babies' parents were looking into the vaccine-i think it must be available to babies that have had heart operations etc-this was in scarborough but i am quite sure the parents were on about a vaccine at Leeds.
i would press for a vaccine if i was you!

One of my twins currently has bronchiolitis and i am furious that despite being born at 23 weeks, being ventilated for nearly two months, having chronic lung disease they still aren't eligible for the rsv vaccine. They had the first dose in October, then 'they' changed the rules so they no longer qualify.

In answer to your question, i don't know of anywhere privately, although understand they cost hundreds of pounds each and they need one a month from october to march.

oh i am so sorry greepers that is appalling that your poor twin has not been protected from this awful virus. is baby ok-is the other twin likely to get it. i do hope baby recovers quickly and doesnt go on to have recurrent problems.

Gosh I didn't realise they had 'changed the rules' thought all premies got it, I would advise asking your GP about how you can get it privately i'm sure they'd be able to help, Bronchiolitis can be dangerous but isn't always made worse by RSV (you can have bronchiolitis and not have RSV) so i guess this is why they have stopped giving the vaccine but if you would like to have it then ask your GP. HTH

greepers, I am so sorry that your dts are no loner eligible. I will get asking both my gp as well as the neonatologists who we are seeing next week.

Dd2 had this as a baby( she has a genetic lung condition ) Unfortunately it's not a vaccine but an injection of antibodies which gives more of a fighting chance if you come into contact with the RSV virus, but no guarantees that you won't get it.
We were told - a couple of years ago - that it cost about £600 a time, and they needed it every month for about 6 months over the cold & flu season. Sorry can't answer your question about where to go privately but this may give you an idea of cost involved.

When Ds was in hdu with this I was told that the injection isn't particulary effective in a lot of cases. Perhaps that's why it's not given?