A new study has found a major drop in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) related hospitalisations following vaccination among eligible age groups in Scotland.
The study, from Public Health Scotland and the University of Strathclyde, showed a 62% reduction in RSV-related hospitalisations among those who received the vaccine and concluded that the vaccine is effective in reducing such hospitalisations in older adults.
Described as one of the first real-world investigations from the UK and Europe into the impact of the RSV vaccine on older people, the study focused on a period of high seasonal RSV circulation.
Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, head of immunisation and vaccination at Public Health Scotland, said the results showed the importance of RSV vaccine uptake in protecting older groups.
‘Vaccinations have played a major role in protecting the health of people across the globe over the last 50 years and the success of the RSV programme marks another significant step in protecting the population of Scotland against preventable diseases,’ he said.
Estimates from the UK in 2022 pointed to a disproportionate clinical effect of RSV infection in older people, with an annual average of 71 respiratory hospital admissions per 100,000 adults during the winter months.
Hospitals across the UK have faced unprecedented levels of respiratory viruses in recent months, with NHS England tackling a ‘quad-demic’ of RSV, flu, norovirus and Covid-19 over winter.
Scotland launched an RSV vaccination programme in August 2024, with local adults aged between 75 and 79 invited to come forward for their free RSV vaccination before winter.
By the end of November 2024, there was a 68% uptake of the vaccine in this older adult population.
A separate programme was also run for pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy to protect infants from the virus.
The national RSV vaccination rollout in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for eligible groups began on 1 September 2024.
The study is the first to demonstrate the positive impact of the RSV vaccination programme in reducing hospital admissions in Scotland and shows the importance of older adults coming forward for their vaccine, the authors said.
Commenting on the results, Neil Gray, Scottish cabinet secretary for health and social care, said: ‘I’d urge all those eligible to come forward for their vaccine when called. It is incredibly important for older adults and pregnant women to protect their new born babies from RSV.’
A version of this article was originally published by our sister publication Nursing in Practice.
