THE NHS has announced it has delivered 376,997 vaccinations against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) in the South East.
It comes as part of more than two million RSV jabs administered nationally since the programme’s launch last autumn.
The NHS says the milestone reflects its proactive approach to protecting vulnerable groups, including pregnant women and older adults aged 75 to 79, from the risks of RSV, which can lead to serious respiratory illnesses like pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis.
Pregnant women in the South East are also being encouraged to protect their baby ahead of winter by having the vaccination with almost of half of RSV cases in children aged 0 to 4 years.
The call comes with the Australian winter used as a good predictor of how viruses will spread in England, and following the highest number of RSV cases on record last year in Australia, cases have been steadily increasing since the start of 2025 in many areas.
The vaccine boosts the mother’s immune system to produce more antibodies against the virus – protecting the baby from the day they are born.
The RSV vaccine was offered to pregnant women in England for the first time last September and has now helped to protect more than 300,000 mothers and babies.
Pregnant mums from 28 weeks onwards can access the RSV jab through their maternity services or via their local GP practice.
James Hempsted-Kingham, Director of Primary Care & Public Health Commissioning for the region, said:
“It is a testament to the hard work of NHS staff that we’ve reached this incredible milestone of over two million RSV vaccinations delivered, including more than 376,000 in the South East.
“These vaccines are a vital tool in protecting vulnerable individuals from serious illness and reducing winter pressures on our health services and I’d encourage all those who are eligible to make sure they come forward and are protected.”
More information is available via: nhs.uk/conditions/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv/
