Babies born very prematurely in Northern Ireland will be offered
a single long-acting injection against respiratory syncytial
virus (RSV) later this year.
Nirsevimab will replace the current jab, Palivizumab, following
advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
(JCVI) in February 2023. It will be available from Autumn for the
eligible cohort, including high risk infants and those born too
early to be protected by the RSV vaccine offered to pregnant
women.
Nirsevimab offers over 80% protection against the virus and is
administered as a single injection that provides protection right
through an RSV season – from September to February each year.
Health Minister said: “The risk of
contracting RSV for children born very prematurely in their first
winter is extremely serious and has a significant impact on our
health service each year. My Department has approved using this
new vaccine in line with the approach being taken across the
other UK nations.
“This innovative vaccine further strengthens our winter
preparedness to prevent avoidable hospital admissions and reduce
pressures on GPs and Emergency Departments. It follows on from
the launch of an RSV vaccination programme for pregnant women and
adults aged 75-79 years old last year.
“I would encourage parents and guardians of those eligible to
avail of the vaccination to help protect their baby from
illness.”
Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Michael McBride said: “RSV is
a potentially serious virus, particularly for very young babies.
Vaccinations have been extremely effective in eradicating
diseases and protecting children and other vulnerable groups from
serious illness and death.
“Worryingly, we are now seeing a decline in the uptake of
childhood immunisations. Vaccinations offer children the very
best start in life. Quite simply, if children aren't vaccinated,
they're not protected.”
Nirsevimab will be available right across the UK after NHS
England, supported by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA),
worked with the manufacturer, Sanofi, to agree a cost-effective
commercial price to secure access for high-risk infants.
The 2023 JCVI advice stated that a long-acting monoclonal
immunisation should be considered for eligible high-risk and very
preterm infants – born before 32 weeks. RSV can lead to
life-threatening pneumonia and infant bronchiolitis, a lung
infection.
Nirsevimab will replace palivizumab as the recommended medicine
for eligible babies from September / October.
Notes to editors:
- In 2024, the Department of Health announced the new
vaccination programme against RSV. Read the
announcement here.
- RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild,
cold-like symptoms in adults and children, however the severity
of illness developed can vary. For infants, RSV can cause
bronchiolitis which can be serious.
- Around 9,000 infants across the UK, in or before their
first RSV season, are expected to benefit from nirsevimab with
rollout anticipated to start from late September, to prepare
for the arrival of higher rates of RSV usually seen through the
colder months.
- Nirsevimab offers over 80% protection, compared to
Palivizumab's 55% protection, and is administered through one
injection, compared with up to five with Palivizumab.
- Both nirsevimab and palivizumab are a type of drug called a
monoclonal antibody (mAbs) that provide ready-made immune
protection directly to the baby. They work differently to the
RSV vaccine offered through the NHS to pregnant women:
vaccination boosts the mother's immune system to make extra
protective antibodies which are passed to the baby in the womb,
giving protection from birth. Since September 2024, the
maternal vaccine has been offered to pregnant women in the UK
to protect babies.
- RSV statistics for the 0-4 age group for 2024 and until
06/07/2025 in Northern Ireland: Table attached * community
acquired emergency RSV hospital admissions RSV episodes are
defined by a 14-day (2-week) period from the date of the first
positive test result (utilising any test method, including PCR
and Point of Care Tests, or source of sample, including
hospital, GP, other source), with the episode beginning with
the earliest positive specimen date. Subsequent positive
specimen dates for the same individual within 14 days of the
last are included in the one episode. Positive specimens for
the same individual more than 14 days after the last are
counted in a separate episode. Community-acquired RSV emergency
admissions to acute hospitals are estimated by combining data
from PAS, EPIC and virological reports in NIHAP. Admissions are
counted where there was a positive test up to seven days before
admission or up to one day after admission, and the method of
admission was ‘Emergency'. The number of inpatients is counted
at midnight. Admissions and occupancy refer to the first
admission per infection episode.
-
RSV infects 90% of children
by the age of two and is one of the leading causes
of hospitalisation in the first year of life
