NHS Introduces RSV Vaccine for Pregnant Women and the Elderly

September 2, 2024 TruthUSA

Pfizer faced criticism for not informing participants in the trial that a similar vaccine from GSK was withdrawn due to a signal for pre-term birth.

The NHS has started vaccinating pregnant women and older individuals against a usually mild respiratory virus. This virus can sometimes lead to severe complications in babies and the elderly.

Officials praised the new respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) programme as a significant step that could prevent numerous hospital admissions, thereby reducing pressure on the NHS during winter.

As of this week, pregnant women can receive the vaccine starting at 28 weeks of pregnancy. Additionally, individuals turning 75 after September 1 will also be offered the vaccine. Scotland initiated a similar rollout in August.

Pfizer Leading in Vaccine Development

The vaccine, known as Abrysvo and produced by Pfizer, is part of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s Black Triangle Scheme, which means it will be closely monitored for side effects and adverse reactions.

Recent data shows an increasing number of women in the UK opting for a vaccine-free pregnancy due to concerns about potential side effects following the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Data from clinical trials of the new vaccine revealed an excess of preterm births in the vaccinated group. The government stated that this excess was only seen in middle-income countries, not high-income countries.

Risk of Pre-Term Births

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) expressed relative reassurance about the absence of a clear signal of preterm births in high-income countries. They suggested that vaccinating later in pregnancy might reduce potential risks of prematurity.

A rival RSV vaccine developed by GSK was withdrawn in 2022 after a signal for premature birth emerged in trials. Some experts criticized Pfizer for not disclosing this information to pregnant women participating in their trial, according to a report by the British Medical Journal.

The new NHS programme aligns with recommendations from the JCVI, which considers the economic impact on the NHS when making vaccination decisions.

The pursuit of an RSV vaccine has been a long-standing goal for the pharmaceutical industry.

Nature magazine recounted a trial from the 1960s that went awry in seeking an RSV vaccine. Rather than providing protection, the vaccine left children more vulnerable to the illness, with many experiencing severe complications.

Cold-Like Symptoms

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) indicated that RSV is prevalent among young children by age two. While it typically causes mild symptoms in healthy individuals, it poses a higher risk to babies, the elderly, and those with certain health conditions.

RSV leads to around 33,000 hospital admissions and between 20 and 30 deaths in young children annually in the UK, according to the RCPCH.

The NHS reported a spike in RSV-related hospitalizations in young children last winter compared to the previous year.

NHS England emphasized the impact of RSV on children’s hospitals and the strain on healthcare resources. A recent study in the Lancet highlighted the potential of the new programme to prevent hospitalisations and reduce illness rates.

The NHS projected that the older adult vaccination programme could prevent numerous hospital admissions and illnesses among older individuals.

Leaders in public health lauded the introduction of the RSV vaccine programme as a significant advancement for public health.

Minister for public health and prevention, Andrew Gwynne, shared a personal experience of his grandson contracting RSV and emphasized the importance of vaccination in preventing the disease.

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