Expectant Mothers Urged to Get RSV Vaccine Following Child’s Hospitalizations

Following her son’s three hospital admissions due to a respiratory virus, a mother has encouraged pregnant individuals to receive a recently introduced vaccine aimed at safeguarding their unborn children. Natasha D’Amore, a 31-year-old resident of Finedon, Northamptonshire, reported that her second son, Oscar, was diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) on three separate occasions within his initial 15 months of life, resulting in a severe case of bronchiolitis. During these episodes, he required a drip and intubation for multiple days on the Skylark Ward at Kettering General Hospital (KGH), first in 2015 and again in 2016. As she anticipates the arrival of another child, Ms D’Amore stated: “I would urge all expectant mothers to have this vaccination because it is so awful and scary to have a baby with RSV.” RSV is a prevalent winter virus typically associated with coughs and colds, yet it can lead to serious, and occasionally fatal, respiratory complications in infants. Annually, approximately 20,000 infants in England are hospitalized due to RSV-related conditions, with up to 30 fatalities attributed to the virus. Mrs. D’Amore is currently 37 weeks into her pregnancy with her third child. Reflecting on the events from nine years prior, she commented: “You are so frightened. “You just don’t know how long it will last and if he will recover, and every time they get poorly you think the worst – you don’t want to go through this if you can avoid it.” She added: “Any protection that could be offered to reduce the chance of our baby from going through that experience when they arrive is well worth it.” The NHS advises that the RSV vaccine is recommended starting from 28 weeks of gestation, providing protection for the infant during their initial months post-birth. Data from national clinical trials indicates that these vaccines demonstrate 70% efficacy in preventing severe RSV infection in babies born to mothers who have been vaccinated. Dr. Nick Barnes, who serves as the lead neonatal and cardiology consultant at Northampton General Hospital, noted: “Over 60% of children are currently infected with RSV by their first birthday.” He further explained: “Infants aged less than six months frequently develop the most severe disease (bronchiolitis and pneumonia) that may result in hospitalisation.” The RSV vaccines are currently being administered to pregnant women at 28 weeks of gestation at both Kettering General Hospital and Northampton General Hospital. For updates on Northamptonshire news, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.