RSV vaccine

[Twinkletwinklelil]

Is anyone having it? Any reservations?
I’ve been invited to have it but not sure if necessary!

It's more like 20,000 babies hospitalised in the UK last year with RSV
Some of these needed a ventilator on intensive care, and a small number died.

I absolutely will be taking the RSV vaccine, hoping to get mine next week, especially as my baby is due to arrive in winter in the middle of RSV season

Must have misheard. Maybe it was last month? Blimey, I thought 1,000 was bad enough.
Definitely have the vaccine, OP.

im hoping to squeeze it in although will be 38 weeks by the time I have it and will be due to deliver 11 days later! Not ideal but hoping there will be some protection for when baby is here…

Already had it. The vaccine has been used extensively in the US for years and there are no issues with the safety record. RSV kills babies every year in the UK - for me its a total non-brainer

I would absolutely have it.

@Twinkletwinklelil thanks so much for posting this post. As I was wondering the same.

So many helpful comments on here so I am definitely going to get it done. Sending so much love to the parents who had to go through a worrying time with their little ones 😭

I'm due in Nov and my 3 year old has started pre school, so I think it's deffo worth it as goodness knows what he's going to be bringing back home!

I got the text and went to make an appointment and was told no availability til end of Oct (after my due date). They said keep checking back 🙄 I wonder if there are some shortages or if just a staffing issue at our local maternity unit.

I’m definitely planning on having the vaccine. Protecting my vulnerable newborn from diseases that could serious hurt them is so important. My midwife said it was available at the hospital, so I can have it there at my appointments when I’m far along enough, and I just had a text from my GP surgery saying they also offer it if the hospital don’t offer it. I’m pretty relieved, because I’ve heard some women have to jump through hoops to try to access RSV and whooping cough vaccines.

My DD (who was under 1 at the time) was part of a research study for this vaccine. She wasn't selected for the actual vaccination but plenty of other babies were. It had obviously been robustly tested and authorised for use etc before they gave it to the babies for the study, so as an adult I think it would be fine.

@ANiceCuppaTeaandBiscuit That's a shame. I got offered it at one of my regular growth scans, but the midwife did say that the uptake had been excellent in our area and they were nearly out of vaccines

It’s not a new vaccine, it’s just being rolled out to a wider population. We currently offer the vaccination to babies born prematurely as they are most at risk of severe complications if they catch RSV. Now the vaccine is being introduced to pregnant women to further protect all newborns. I also believe there are plans (if not already) to offer the vaccine to over 65s too.

I've got mine booked for next week when I'll be 35 weeks. Hopefully plenty of time to pass on protection to my baby. Not having the flu vaccine though until 10 days before my due date as that was the earliest they could offer it.

It was rolled out in USA for use in pregnancy a year ago, and is also approved for use across the EU.

I caught it whilst my daughter was hospitalised at 14 months with it. I felt absolutely awful so I can imagine how bad the kids feel.

My son was too, and he did get the vaccine. No ill effects, he obviously hasn't caught RSV, and he does seem to recover very quickly from coughs and colds compared to his peers. I'm very glad we took part and have been able to contribute (in a tiny way) towards the vaccine being rolled out and saving some lives.

Got the message from my GP that I could have the jab on the day I had my elective c section. So obviously I missed out. But I definitely would’ve got it, anything to protect my baby.

Yes I got invited! I made an appointment (I'm 16 weeks tomorrow) but the GP called and cancelled and said it was a mistake as I'm eligible after 28 weeks. I was kind of relieved as that was the normal timeline I'd heard, but since they invited me I was thinking maybe I needed it going into autumn/winter with more viruses around.

It says that the MHRA only approved it for use in Nov 2023, so it's not even been used a year yet in the UK, I'd say that's pretty new.

My then two month old was critically ill with it, most likely caught from his brother who goes to nursery. My older child has had many episodes of bronchiolitis so I was used to the drill but it was a whole new territory with my baby because he was still so small.

Get it. It makes a huge difference. You will have no idea if you or baby is exposed to anyone with RSV so you can’t really protect yourself by staying away from those who have it.

If there’s even a tiny chance your baby could contract RSV and God forbid succumb to it, why wouldn’t you do everything in your power to stop that happening? There are lots of places in the world where people are desperate for vaccines like this. We are very lucky to be offered it
babies have no immunity when they are so young and are so vulnerable. My friend works in neonatal ICU and sees some truly awful things

I'll be having it. My baby is due in February and I've got a toddler in nursery who will be bringing every cough and cold home with him this winter. If I can have something to give some added protection to my newborn, I won't hesitate.

I am planning on having it but has anyone read more into the little fact on the information sheet about it potentially causing early labour?

My newborn caught RSV and it was a 6 day hospital stint of seeing him lying in an incubator covered in wires, so so ill.

If I could have had an RSV vaccine in pregnancy I would have jumped at the chance!

I would, my daughter was admitted at 11 days old with RSV and ventilated. I would hate to see anyone else have to go through that. I'd take the vaccine

I think this is so exciting. Every winter every paediatric ward in the country is full of babies struggling to breathe from bronchiolitis. This could dramatically cut those numbers.