RSV can cause serious lung infections, especially in young children and older adults. Each year in the UK, RSV leads to around 30,000 hospital visits for children under five and about 9,000 for adults aged 75 and over. The vaccination programme aims to reduce these hospital visits and ease the strain on the NHS during winter.

Vaccinations are now being offered to pregnant women and older adults, aiming to protect those most vulnerable to the virus.

For older adults, the vaccine is available from GPs for those aged 75 and over, and there’s also a special catch-up campaign for those aged 75 to 79. This ensures that even new eligible individuals get the vaccine.

Pregnant women from 28 weeks onwards may also be eligible also get the vaccine to help protect their babies. Pregnant women should speak with their maternity service or GP for more details.

The uptake so far in Herefordshire has been very positive, and eligible residents are encouraged to have the vaccination when it is offered.

For more information, visit the RSV vaccine page on the NHS website.