A vaccine against a widespread virus has prevented the admission to hospital of more than 200 babies in Scotland, according to new research. 

The study, involving the University of Strathclyde, has found that the risk of hospitalisation for children born to mothers who were given the RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) vaccine was reduced by around 80%, compared with those who had not received it.  

This equates to a reduction of 219 RSV hospital admissions in 2024-5, the first year of the vaccination programme, from the previous year, when the total stood at nearly 600. The RSV vaccine was introduced in August 2024 – timed for it to take effect by the late autumn and winter peak RSV season – and is available to pregnant women, from the 28th week of their term, throughout the year. By August 2025, it had been given to more than half of all pregnant women in Scotland. 

Varied prevalence

RSV normally causes cold or flu-like symptoms but, owing to babies’ small airways, an infection can lead to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. The prevalence of the virus varies from year to year and is difficult to predict. 

The study, led by Public Health Scotland (PHS), has been published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 

Professor Chris Robertson, of Strathclyde’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics, a partner in the study, said: “RSV infection is a particular risk for young babies and the vaccination programme of expectant mothers proved to be immensely valuable, during the first few months after it began. 

The sharp fall in admissions to hospital benefits not only the individual families but also the NHS as a whole, by helping to reduce pressure during some of its times of highest demand.          

In a blog, Ross McQueenie, Lead – Vaccine Effectiveness and Infectious Respiratory Inequalities with PHS, writes: “RSV is an incredibly common virus. Nearly all children will catch it before they’re two, most before their first birthdays, and some when they’re a few weeks old.  

The early success of the maternal RSV vaccine illustrates the preventative value of public health immunisation programmes. This vaccination, like so many others, stops serious illness and improves the health of children and communities. 

“Hundreds of families were spared the distress of caring for seriously ill babies, and hospitals experienced less strain on children’s wards. Still, there is more to do; with RSV cases rising among infants under one year old, we encourage all expectant mothers to protect their newborns by taking up the RSV vaccine at around 28 weeks of pregnancy.”