RSV Vaccination

[PrincessMarma]

Hi mums.

I am currently pregnant with my second child, expected beginning of August. I noticed that a new vaccine (RSV) is currently being offered to pregnant women arround 28 (or something) weeks?

I am just wondering if much research could have been done into the RSV vaccine in pregnant women in such a short time, as I had my first in March without the RSV and baby was fine - This baby will arrive in the summer, so isn't there a low chance of contracting it anyway?

I know people who have had no vaccines at all during their pregnancies and all has been well.

Won't be using this post as medical advice, just wondering what people's thoughts are on it?

Thanks,

I initially thought this, but after doing research I found it’s not actually a new vaccine at all. It’s been offered privately for years - you just had to pay before if you chose to have it. It’s only being offered now on the NHS now as it’s more cost effective for them to offer it as a precautionary measure rather than paying for babies to stay in intensive care ill with RSV after having record numbers over the last few years. I also discovered a lot of countries have offered it routinely for years. I therefore personally felt comfortable having it in the end - hope this helps 🙂

I am 15w.I am going to have it. True that there are less infections in the summer but within the first few months our parents will come to visit travelling by plane also my neighbors work on trains and they will be the first meeting him. The more baby is protected the better I feel about him meeting other people.

I'm going to get it also due to reasons above.
My DS caught RSV at the tail end of August last year when he was 9.5months. GP said it was his first case of the year if confirmed RSV which it was at hospital. Thankfully he was ok and only required a day and a night being monitored in hospital but obviously as a parent it was still terrifying watching him struggle for breath.

Similarly to you OP it wasn't offered with my last pregnancy in 2023 but this time it is so I'm definitely going to have it before my second is born in July. Partly because I've heard horror stories about babies who are in critical condition with RSV and partly because I just tend to get vaccinated for whatever is available! I've already had the whooping cough, flu and Covid vaccines so I always think why not just get as much protection as possible. Anti vaxxers would disapprove of me for sure 🙈

I’m pregnant with my third and just had the RSV vaccine a few weeks ago even though I it wasn’t available with my first two. I didn’t bother with the flu one as I’ve never had it in any of my pregnancies but might have had if we weren’t coming into spring.

DH has become hugely cautious about vaccinations for reasons I won’t go into but I felt that getting the RSV vaccine while I’m pregnant was important to offer some protection in those first few weeks as we have older children at school/nursery who pick up all sorts and bring it home.

my DD is now 6 years old. She caught RSV at 7 weeks old. She was very poorly - admitted to hospital with suspected meningitis, had to have a lumbar puncture and IV antibiotics until the tests excluded meningitis and her nasal swab confirmed RSV. I had it at the same time and was quite unwell too. She was poorly for weeks afterwards. the experience made my time as a new mother frought with worry. My DD is asthmatic now, despite us having no family history. RSV is no joke and I wish there had been a vaccine available. Every winter paediatric wards are full of bronchiolitis babies. Obviously you should weigh up the risks and benefits yourself but I would do some research about how unwell RSV can make infants.

Our friend's baby nearly died from RSV. Our toddler also caught it over Christmas, with multiple hospital trips and a two-month recovery. It's well researched, tested, and could save your baby's life.

I'm expecting in August too and just booked my appointment in for May.

I have two friends with little ones, one of whom got the RSV vaccine in pregnancy (in Germany) and the other in the UK who didn't. Their little ones both came down with RSV recently and the vaccinated mum and baby had much fewer symptoms while the ones in the UK had awful breathing troubles and mutliple hospital trips.

I'm extra keen to get it knowing this, and having a toddler at home who could easily pick it up. Having a baby in August too, they'll still be tiny over the winter and I feel like that's even more reason to go ahead.

I had my son in spring 2023 and it wasn’t offered then. He was born 5 weeks early and while he didn’t have rsv, he really struggled just with a common cold when he was a week old. It took him three weeks to get over it and struggled to breathe with it. He also had a breathing issue when he was 9 months old, the hospital thought it was croup but weren’t sure.

Im due again this spring, and I opted for the vaccine a few weeks ago. I was hesitant because I didnt have it with my son, but I have had the whooping cough and flu vaccines and if it can help at all then it will be worth it.

Also as previous posters have said, I have a toddler that brings everything back from nursery, I have been ill more during this pregnancy than I have been healthy.

RSV can turn into the horrible infection bronchiolitis in infants. My son had it four times before he was 1, twice hospitalised for multiple days because he couldn't breathe properly. I so wish that the vaccine had been offered to me when I was pregnant. It's a complete no brainer here - get it to protect your child

I had mine recently and I was also worried about what research had been done, as it’s a new vaccine. However it’s been used in other countries for a long time so I felt reassured by that. Also as others have said, RSV can be so serious so to me it makes sense.

RSV infection is one of the most common reasons for babies ending up in hospital, or even in intensive care needing breathing support. The vaccine is new in the UK, but has been used worldwide for some years. I'd love all pregnant women to take up pertussis and RSV immunisation. Because I really hate sending babies to intensive care. Especially the bit when the parents ask if their baby is going to be alright, and I can't give them a lovely reassuring answer, because they might not be.

All I can say is my baby has RSV at 4 weeks, we were in hospital for two nights, he had oxygen and was fed through an NG tube. It was awful, so personally I would jump at a vaccine.

I’m getting it. I know too many babies who have caught RSV and it’s been touch and go. The thought of my baby catching it makes my blood run cold and I’m not someone who is particularly anxious about illness.

My August born baby caught RSV at 8 weeks old, as was admitted to hospital for 5 days, had to have a feeding tube and oxygen. Would have loved a vaccine to.be available, my friends June born caught it the same year and was also hospitalised for just under a week when he was 4 months old. Apparently the vaccine has been around longer in other countries, just a first for the UK I think?

I work in a hospital (management not clinical). We’re seeing increasing numbers of rsv in dc and babies are most vulnerable. By getting vaccinated you protect your baby so for me it’s a non brainer.