Warning over virus dangerous to newborns and elderly after surge in Australia
And following a surge in cases number of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases in Australia, officials have said that cases have been steadily increasing in England since the start of 2025.
NHS England has urged pregnant women to get the vaccine which protects against RSV in order to protect their newborn babies.
What is RSV? 💭
It's a respiratory virus that can cause serious illness in the elderly & young children.
If a woman has the vaccination during pregnancy, it cuts the risk of serious lung infection caused by #RSV in her baby's first 6 months
Read more: https://t.co/xiZHJPt8Dv pic.twitter.com/qfrclhNsWV
— UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) August 4, 2025
It said that the virus is a leading cause of death among babies and the main cause of hospital admissions for children.
Kate Brintworth, chief midwifery officer for NHS England, said: 'While for most adults RSV only causes mild, cold-like symptoms, for older adults and young children it can lead to serious breathing problems that can end up in hospitalisation.
'Getting vaccinated while pregnant is the best way to protect your baby from the moment they are born, and now is the time for mums to act, to make sure their babies are protected ahead of their first few months this winter, when there tends to be more bugs circulating.'
Pregnant women can get the jab from 28 weeks of pregnancy onwards through their maternity services or GP surgery.
Getting vaccinated when you're #pregnant helps protect you and your #baby from illnesses, including #WhoopingCough & #RSV. Visit the NHS website to learn more. 💖
✨🔗 https://t.co/nChNqfozC2 pic.twitter.com/0MJ0kVCYiI
— UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) August 1, 2025
Older adults aged 75-79 are also eligible for the jab and NHS England will start inviting people to come forward in the next few weeks.
RSV is a common cause of coughs and colds.
But some people have a high risk of getting seriously ill from the virus including babies and adults over the age of 75.
In babies, RSV is a common cause of a type of chest infection called bronchiolitis.
Last week, the UK Health Security Agency published data showing the efficacy of the vaccine.
It said that the jab for pregnant women can prevent 72% of hospital admissions for their babies.
And the vaccine is 82% effective at preventing hospital admissions for RSV among older adults, UKHSA said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
2 minutes ago
- Daily Record
NHS warns serious virus 'rampant in Australia' is coming to UK as cases surge
The NHS has warned that people should be on the lookout for a serious virus with the most vulnerable getting vaccinations Britain should prepare for a spike in a potentially dangerous virus after Australia recorded unprecedented case numbers, health experts have warned. NHS bosses said that Australia's winter season often serves as a reliable indicator of how viruses will behave in England. Following a dramatic rise in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections across Australia, officials have confirmed that case numbers have been climbing steadily in England since early 2025. NHS England has called on expectant mothers to receive the RSV jab to shield their newborn infants from the illness. Health chiefs said the virus ranks as a top killer of babies and represents the primary reason children end up in hospital. Kate Brintworth, chief midwifery officer for NHS England, said: "While for most adults RSV only causes mild, cold-like symptoms, for older adults and young children it can lead to serious breathing problems that can end up in hospitalisation. "Getting vaccinated while pregnant is the best way to protect your baby from the moment they are born, and now is the time for mums to act, to make sure their babies are protected ahead of their first few months this winter, when there tends to be more bugs circulating." Expectant mothers can receive the vaccination from 28 weeks into their pregnancy via maternity services or their local GP practice. Adults aged between 75 and 79 also qualify for the injection, with NHS England set to begin sending out invitations over the coming weeks. RSV is a frequent culprit behind coughs and colds. However, certain individuals, such as infants and those over 75, are at a heightened risk of severe illness from the virus. In babies, RSV often leads to a chest infection known as bronchiolitis. The UK Health Security Agency recently released data demonstrating the vaccine's effectiveness. According to their findings, the jab for expectant mothers can prevent 72% of hospital admissions for their newborns. Furthermore, the vaccine is 82% effective in preventing hospital admissions due to RSV among the elderly, as per the UKHSA.
ITV News
an hour ago
- ITV News
A third of GP appointments in June were over the phone or online, data shows
A third (33.3%) of GP appointments in England in June were carried out either over the phone or online, the highest proportion since the pandemic. The figure is up from 30.9% a year earlier in June 2024, and 28.3% in June 2023, according to new analysis of NHS England data by the PA news agency. Family doctors said remote consultations 'offer convenience and flexibility that many patients value', and the majority of appointments are still delivered face to face. As many as four in 10 appointments were carried out by phone or online during the pandemic, but the proportion fell once the impact of Covid-19 eased and had dropped to 27.7% in January 2023. In the past two years the figure has risen slowly but steadily, driven by a sharp increase in consultations taking place online. These accounted for only 1.5% of all GP appointments in June 2023 but had jumped to 4.9% by June 2024 and 8.0% in June this year. This has helped push up the combined figure for phone and online appointments to its current post-pandemic high of 33.3%. The figure just for telephone appointments has remained broadly unchanged over this period, at about 25%. Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs (RCGP), said: 'Remote consultations, whether delivered over the phone or via video, can offer convenience and flexibility that many patients value, and evidence has shown that in the vast majority of cases, remote care is safe. 'Often a GP might initially consult with a patient remotely and then ask them to come into the practice if it's necessary to see them in person. 'However, we also know that many patients prefer to access their care in-person, and this is how the majority of appointments are still delivered. 'Over the last 12 months, GPs and their teams have delivered a record-breaking number of appointments, and nearly 250 million were carried out in person.' Some 63.3% of GP appointments in June in England were in person, data shows, down from 65.3% a year earlier and 68.4% in June 2023. Online appointments include those carried out using live chat tools or non-video apps, as well as video-based calls. The proportion of appointments taking place by phone or online varies across the regions, with the figures for June ranging from 38.2% in London to 28.4% in North East and Yorkshire. Prof Hawthorne said the college 'supports a mixed-method approach to delivering care' in general practice and decisions on how appointments are carried out are between clinicians and patients. 'What's key is that when GPs are consulting with their patients remotely, they have access to the robust and up-to-date IT systems that allows them to do so safely and effectively,' she added. Prof Hawthorne said the Government 'has put forward some encouraging proposals to improve the GP practice digital infrastructure and IT systems' but 'significant investment' is needed to make this a reality. She added: 'The college has called for additional funding of at least £2 billion to ensure our physical and digital infrastructure is fit for purpose so we can offer patients the appointment that's right for them.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'We've made real progress fixing the front door of the NHS, recruiting more than 2,000 GPs in the last year and delivering an additional 7 million GP appointments to improve access for patients. 'Through our 10 Year Health Plan we are delivering Neighbourhood Health Services that deliver more personalised, proactive care in local areas where it is more convenient for patients. 'This Government is also clear that patients should have access to health and care when they need it and people who prefer a face-to-face appointment should have one, so we are transforming the NHS app to make managing your healthcare online easy and flexible.' An NHS England spokesperson said: 'Every GP practice must offer face-to-face appointments where patients want or need them, and many patients choose remote appointments where it is clinically appropriate and more convenient for them. 'GP teams are working hard to offer better access for patients, with a record number of appointments being carried out in the last year and recent findings showing the number of patients who are satisfied with their practice has improved.'
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Vaccine plea to pregnant women as deadly virus surges
The UK is preparing for a potential surge in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases, following a record number of infections in Australia, which often predicts viral spread in England. NHS England has observed a steady increase in RSV cases since early 2025 and is urging pregnant women to get vaccinated to protect their babies. RSV is a significant health concern, being a leading cause of death among babies and the primary reason for hospital admissions for children, though it typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms in most adults. Pregnant women can receive the RSV jab from 28 weeks of pregnancy, and older adults aged 75-79 will also be invited for vaccination in the coming weeks. Data from the UK Health Security Agency indicates the vaccine is highly effective, preventing 72 per cent of hospital admissions for babies and 82 per cent for older adults. Urgent warning over virus dangerous to newborns as cases surge abroad
