Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent respiratory illnesses, such as respiratory syncytial virus, in babies and infants this winter to free up paediatric elective care.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) usually causes a mild self-limiting respiratory infection in adults and children, but it can be severe in infants. The United Kingdom has a programme of immunisation with the monoclonal antibody immunisation to reduce the risk of severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in babies at high risk of complications including those with major congenital heart disease and complications of prematurity.

United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) monitors levels of RSV activity in England, publishes information throughout the RSV season and works closely with NHS health professionals to support the healthcare system in responding to RSV activity.

The NHS plans for a wide range of scenarios ahead of each winter and will continue to adapt plans based on respiratory infections surveillance, including RSV, and NHS activity data. This includes specialised commissioning-led winter surge planning for paediatric critical care, as well as wider winter planning.

For RSV specifically, this includes the selective seasonal offer of monoclonal antibody to infants at high risk, which continues to be managed and reviewed in accordance with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Advice has recently been given by JCVI for specialised commissioning to work towards replacing palivizumab with nirsevimab. Nirsevimab is an extended half-life monoclonal antibody which should give protection for at least six months and possibly longer, unlike palivizumab which requires administration of monthly doses in a series of five monthly intramuscular injections to infants and children during the RSV season. NHS England is working with partners, including UKHSA, to plan for and manage the transition from palivizumab to nirsevimab.

UKHSA have also highlighted the signs and symptoms of RSV, and steps that people can take to reduce infections through social media, online content and national and regional media.

JCVI is currently evaluating RSV infant immunisations and maternal vaccinations for programme use and the Government awaits their recommendations.