A Pembrokeshire mother whose baby daughter spent three weeks in hospital after contracting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is urging families across Wales to take up the vaccines available to them this winter.
Joanne, a health visitor from Pembrokeshire, experienced first-hand how serious the virus can be when her daughter was admitted to hospital on Christmas Eve after testing positive for RSV.
Her daughter’s right lung had filled with mucus, leaving her struggling to breathe. She was placed on a CPAP machine to support her breathing and came close to needing to be intubated.
The experience had a lasting impact on the family, with Joanne fearing that even a common cold could lead to another hospital admission.
Joanne said: “Watching your baby struggle to breathe is terrifying. She came so close to needing to be intubated and spent three weeks on the high dependency unit.
“Even after we brought her home, I was so afraid of her getting sick again that it changed how we lived our lives, how often we saw family and friends. For the whole of her first year, every cold meant another trip to the GP, needing inhalers, or going back into hospital just so she could breathe properly.
“I want other parents to understand that RSV isn’t just a bad cold. If you’re offered the vaccine, whether that’s during pregnancy or for someone you love who’s older, please take it up. It could save your family from going through what we did.”
RSV is a common respiratory virus that circulates every winter. While it usually causes mild symptoms, it can lead to serious illnesses such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia, particularly among babies, older people and those with weakened immune systems.
In Wales, RSV is associated with up to 1,000 hospital admissions and 9,000 GP appointments among people aged over 75 each year.
With flu vaccinations already underway across Wales, people are being reminded that protection against RSV requires a separate vaccine.
Although many people are familiar with receiving their annual flu jab or COVID-19 booster, health officials are concerned that some may mistakenly believe these vaccinations also protect against RSV.
The RSV vaccine is routinely offered throughout the year to adults aged 75 and over, as well as pregnant women to help protect their newborn babies.
Older adults only need one dose of the RSV vaccine, while pregnant women are advised to receive it during every pregnancy.
The vaccination programme was expanded in September as part of the Welsh Government’s revised winter preparedness strategy, which places a greater focus on preventing serious illness.
The offer now includes higher-risk adults aged 65 to 74, including people who are immunosuppressed or have chronic respiratory disease.
Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health, Nerys Evans, said: “Joanne’s story is a powerful reminder of how serious RSV can be, not just for older people but also for our smallest and most vulnerable babies. No parent should have to spend Christmas at their baby’s hospital bedside.
“I urge all who are eligible to come forward for their flu jab, their COVID-19 booster and their RSV vaccine. They protect against different viruses, and it really can make the difference between a mild illness and a serious hospital stay.”
The message to people across Wales this winter is that flu, COVID-19 and RSV are different viruses, and each vaccination offers protection against a different infection.
Those eligible for the vaccines are being encouraged to take up the protection available to help reduce the risk of serious illness and hospitalisation during the colder months.
