A vaccine to protect babies from a major respiratory virus that results in thousands of hospitalisations each year is being offered to Black Country mums-to-be.
The Black Country Local Maternity and Neonatal System (BCLMNS) is highlighting the availability of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination which is given at 28 weeks of pregnancy.
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust will be offering it from Monday 2 September. The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust will be setting up clinics from 27 September and details for Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust will follow in due course.
RSV can cause bronchiolitis in babies making it difficult for them to breathe and feed. Many will have to be treated in hospital and, in severe cases, the virus can result in the need for Intensive Care.
Helen Hurst, Chief Midwifery Officer for the BCLMNS, said: “RSV is an unpleasant and worrying virus and some babies will need to come to hospital because they develop bronchiolitis. This is extremely distressing for parents to see.
“Having the vaccine can reduce your baby’s risk of having RSV by 70 percent in the first six months of their lives. It is safe for baby and mum and a single dose will boost protection.
“This new vaccination programme is coming ahead of the peak winter period and we encourage mums-to-be to ask their Midwife about it at their antenatal appointments.”
Donna Perkins, Antenatal Clinic and Fetal Assessment Unit Manager at Walsall Manor Hospital, added: “Our friendly Maternity Nurse Vaccinator Kitty and all Antenatal Clinic and Fetal Assessment Unit Midwives will talk to mums-to-be about the vaccine and are happy to answer any questions they may have.
“RSV is a common virus which can cause a lung infection called bronchiolitis. In babies this condition can make it hard to breathe and to feed. We welcome and encourage the RSV vaccine which will boost your immune system to produce more antibodies against the virus which pass through the placenta protecting your baby from the day they are born.“
Maria Hopkin is the Midwife Vaccinator at Dudley’s Russells Hall Hospital and she is also ready to reassure mums-to-be.
“I want to raise awareness of RSV so that our mums-to-be can make an informed choice about having the vaccination,” she said.
“There’s a lot to take on board when you’re pregnant – we appreciate that – but it is important that the risks of RSV are highlighted as we work together to protect our babies across the Black Country.”
