RSV vaccine in pregnancy

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What is RSV?

RSV in babies

How will the RSV vaccine protect my baby?

Is the RSV vaccine safe?

When will I be offered the RSV vaccine?

Should I get the RSV vaccine?

Getting vaccinated against RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) when you are pregnant protects your baby from the serious problems that RSV can cause.

What is RSV?

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common winter virus that causes coughs and colds. It is spread in the coughs and sneezes of someone who has the virus. Doing simple things things like covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze and washing your hands can help to stop the virus spread but won’t stop it completely.

Read more about RSV, including symptoms.

RSV in babies

Most children get RSV before they’re 2 years old. It’s not usually serious, but it could make your baby very ill, especially if your baby is premature or has lung, heart or immune conditions.  

While some babies with RSV will have cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, a cough and being irritable, others need hospital treatment. For some it is life-threatening.

RSV can cause bronchiolitis, a chest infection that affects babies and children under 2. It is usually mild but can be serious. It can make it difficult for babies to breathe and feed.

How will the RSV vaccine protect my baby?

When you have the RSV vaccine in pregnancy, the immunity you get from it passes through the placenta to your unborn baby.  

This reduces the risk of severe RSV effects by 70% in the first 6 months of your baby’s life and possibly longer. This is when they are most at risk of getting very ill from RSV.

If you are vaccinated against RSV, your baby could still get RSV, but they are less likely to. If they do get it, the illness should be less severe.

Is the RSV vaccine safe?

Yes. There are no safety concerns about the vaccine for pregnant people or their babies.

You will be offered an RSV vaccine called Abrysvo®. It has been approved for use in pregnant women in the UK, and is used in other countries, after testing in clinical trials.  

The Abrysvo® RSV vaccine has no animal content and has been certified Halal by the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA).

What are the possible side-effects?

Mild side-effects for you may include soreness, redness or swelling where you have the injection, muscle pain and headache.

Will the vaccine give me RSV?

No. It does not contain any live virus, so it can’t give you or your baby RSV.

When will I be offered the RSV vaccine?

As of 1 September 2024, your maternity service or GP surgery should offer you one dose of the RSV vaccine if you are at least 28 weeks pregnant. If you haven’t been offered it by then, contact your maternity service or GP practice to make an appointment.

It is free to have it if you are entitled to NHS care.

The best time to have the vaccine is at 28 weeks of your pregnancy or soon after. This will give your baby the most protection. It also means you will have had the vaccine if your baby is born early. But you can have it any time after 28 weeks up until you go into labour.

You can have it done with your flu vaccine, if this is due at around the same time. You should be offered it each time you are pregnant.

Should I get the RSV vaccine?

It’s understandable to worry about vaccine safety when you’re pregnant. There is also a lot of misinformation about vaccination in pregnancy.  

RSV vaccination is being offered to all pregnant people because there is good evidence that it’s safe and that it helps protect babies from serious illness.

It is your choice whether to have the vaccine. It’s always up to you whether you say yes or no to any treatment, test, examination or procedure.  

Read more about making decisions in pregnancy.

Want to know more?

Talk to your doctor or midwife if you have more questions about RSV vaccination. There is more information in this guide to the RSV vaccination.

Find out more about vaccinations in pregnancy.