Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Babies

(asked on 12th March 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to address the burden of infant respiratory syncytial virus on the (a) NHS and (b) health of the population.


Answered by
Jo Churchill Portrait
Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 22nd March 2021

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) usually causes a mild self-limiting respiratory infection in adults and children, but it can be severe in infants who are at increased risk of acute lower respiratory tract infection. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommends that at-risk infants for whom RSV infection is likely to cause serious illness or death and all children less than 24 months of age with severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome are given the Synagis injection.

Public Health England (PHE) monitors levels of RSV activity in England and Wales and publishes information throughout the season. NHS England is working with PHE as part of its preparing and planning for the 2021 RSV season. This includes ensuring access to Synagis out of season in the event of a spring/summer outbreak and ensuring that clinicians have access to the most up to date and evidence-based guidance to support patient treatment and safe discharge from hospital.

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