respiratory syncytial virus RSV Vaccine

[Vhp83]

Been offered this as pregnant but wondering what the take up is as beleive fairly new in this country.
Has anyone had any regrets getting it?

I didn't - it wasn't available at the time. But DS1 almost died from RSV when he was 18 months (it developed into pneumonia). It's a scary virus that doesn't get discussed much so it's amazing to think there's now a vaccine.

I would absolutely be getting this vaccine if I was pregnant. You don't here much about RSV before you have young kids, but it's a legitimate killer.

My 8 week old had RSV. She had a 3 day stay in hospital as they thought initially was meningitis. She had a lumbar puncture and IV antibiotics. There were so many other babies in there the same. She is 5 now and has suspected asthma which I suspect was triggered by this virus. It is awful for babies and little ones. I dearly wish there had been a vaccine available.

I'm not yet 28 weeks but will be getting it as soon as I am - they don't recommend vaccines to pregnant women for no reason, and without thorough testing. I think I'm right in saying that it's also been in use in the US and maybe Europe for a little while with no ill effects which is hopefully reassuring?

I'm now 36 weeks pregnant with my second but had my RSV vaccine when it was first announced at the start of September. When we had our first DD, friends of ours had a little boy of a similar age who had RSV. It was terrifying, he was so poorly - I'm so glad there's a vaccine. It might reassure you to know that, whilst newly introduced in the UK, the vaccine has been used for a good while now in the US and other parts of Europe

Absolutely get it , my baby was hospitalised at 3 weeks old and we are lucky he's alive !
I believe the vaccination has been standard in America for quite a few years although unsure if it's the exact same one .

DD2 was in hospital at 8 weeks old for 5 days with RSV, on oxygen with a feeding tube, it's awful for little ones

I had mine a month ago. No side effects and I'm now 37 weeks with no issues.

Had mine a couple of weeks ago when I reached 28 weeks. No side effects, no regrets.

OP, if you've heard of Bronchiolitis, this is commonly caused by RSV.
Can cause a baby/young child to be very poorly indeed and usually requires hospitalisation. It recurs, also, so you can be looking at repeated hospitalisations and dreadful, dreadful worry.
It is a common cause of Pneumonia in the elderly, which can kill. It's being rolled out to the most vulnerable, babies and the elderly.
Have it! Thank goodness it's here.
Best of luck with your pregnancy.

I'm not at 28 weeks yet, but I will absolutely be getting it when I am - in my limited circle, I know two babies who almost died from RSV so I'm not even questioning whether it's a good idea.

RSV is a mild cold in bigger children and most adults, and for that reason most people won’t have heard of it before children. For babies it’s one of the most common reasons for hospitalisation and apparently leads to the death of 20-30 infants in the UK each year.

If I could have vaccinated against it, especially having a winter baby, I would have grabbed it with both hands.

Having this today from the what I've researched I wouldn't pass the opportunity and risk my baby being severely sick xx

I work in Paeds if you saw how sick babies can get with it you would happily take it.

Minor illness which can cause horrible symptoms in babies and also affect the elderly/vulnerable too.

I'm only 24 weeks but I'll be having it once I'm 28 weeks. My sister is a doctor and she said the amount of severely ill babies they see with it throughout winter is horrific. Please don't risk it.

I'm 35 weeks now and had the RSV vaccine at 30 weeks. No side effects.
Very happy my baby will have some RSV protection especially as she is due just going into winter and bronchiolitis season

I didn’t have it as I’ve responded badly to some vaccines in the past. I really regret it now and am terrified I’ve let my baby down by not giving them the best chance against the virus. Please get it!

What are your worries about getting it OP?

I was initially sceptical but did a lot of research using reputable sources and the benefits outweigh the risks. This is not a mRNA vaccine that is being offered to pregnant women and it has been in development for many, many years. I appreciate that there might be some hesitancy in take up due to people’s fears following the Covid vaccine rollout.

I also have a 4 year old, so in my situation I consider the risk fairly high of her inadvertently bringing bugs home from school and I wanted to make sure the new baby was protected.

I have had flu and whooping cough and was going to have rsv but a friend who is pregnant and who researches-things quite well, decided she wasn't going to which had influenced me a bit to rethink.
It's so hard to know what's right or wrong. I am and always have been more leaning towards getting it though.
I can't see me having a covid jab. Could be coincidence and not having exposure to stuff over lockdown but up until last year I was ill every 2-3 weeks with some cold like bug and I a a fit, active and healthy person and I was never like that before covid. It's just this year I've started to get less poorly.

I think a lot of people caught things after lockdown purely from being away from the cycle of immunity around people and the common bugs.

I asked my midwife at the booking appointment 4 weeks ago and she didn’t know what the RSV vaccine was. So is it a case of it being rolled out or is it someone other than the midwife encouraging the vaccine? My midwife is new to the area and semi retired so maybe she’s not been informed yet.

I am only 13 weeks. I only said the above because she mentioned whooping cough and when to have it (I had it with my last child).

@Blue2020
Every time I've been near the hospital I been told about it and given a leaflet. Being told 20,000 babies have died I believe in the last year. I am in north east England and it's definitely being pushed hard here.

@Vhp83 maybe its once you reach a certain stage then, eg past the 20 week scan when they start mentioning it?

I can see on the gov website it’s been from sept 2024. It wasn’t mentioned when I had DS in early 2023. I would be happy having it, my midwife just didn’t know about it when I asked.

Yes, I agree it’s hard to know what to do sometimes. This is the first new mass vaccine rollout since Covid-19 and following some of the controversy of that, it’s unsurprising that people are hesitant to take the RSV vaccine and others.

I know you say your friend has researched things, but it’s important to make sure you are reading actual scientific papers and the vaccine has been in use in the US for a couple of years so there is data available from their vaccination program.

The vaccine is being pushed where I am, but I’m in the east of England where the initial rollout began so it’s been in my area for some time.

@Squeezetheday
Yes I am north East England too. I think I am convinced enough to go for it but was interested to understand others opinions.

Sorry I meant east of England as in east anglia. It’s funny though, it’s being pushed but actually in many places here you have to travel quite a distance to get it from specific vaccination centres so wonder what that’s about!