New RSV vaccine results in encouraging reduction in hospitalisations for newborns
First published on 07 August 2025
Exciting new findings published today by Public Health Scotland (PHS) show that infants under three months of age, whose mother received the groundbreaking RSV vaccination during pregnancy, were around 80% less likely to be admitted to hospital with an RSV infection compared with those who weren’t vaccinated.
Scotland’s RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) vaccination programme launched in August 2024, and the initial report shows that, by May 2025, around half of all eligible pregnant women in Scotland had taken up the vaccine. As a result, 228 fewer babies (under 3 months of age) were admitted to hospital with serious RSV infections during the virus’ peak season between August and March. Experts hope that, as more women accept this safe and effective vaccine, many more infants can benefit from its protection.
RSV is a very common virus that affects most children by the time they reach their second birthday and often reinfects people throughout their life. It typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms but can lead to serious illness, especially in infants and older adults. RSV is one of the leading causes of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in babies under six months old.
The new maternal vaccine, offered from the 28th week of pregnancy, enables protective antibodies to pass from mother to baby before birth, helping to shield newborns during their first six months of life – the period when they’re most at risk of severe RSV illness.
Dr Kimberly Marsh, Interim Lead, Viral Respiratory Pathogens at PHS said:
“The RSV vaccine is helping to protect our youngest infants when they need this protection most. It’s preventing the distress and suffering that severe RSV infections can cause, and means more babies are benefitting from a healthy start to life. As the RSV season approaches, this is the right time for every pregnant woman to speak to their midwife about getting vaccinated from 28 weeks in their pregnancy."
“In its first year, half of those pregnant women who were eligible for the vaccination took it up. Now that we can show how well the vaccine has already worked in Scotland, we hope that even more women will choose to take the vaccine so that more babies can thrive without the trauma of a severe RSV infection.”
Dr Louisa Pollock, Consultant General Paediatrics/Paediatric Infectious Diseases at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children, said:
As paediatricians, we’re optimistic that, as more pregnant women get vaccinated, we’ll see fewer very sick babies and distressed families. If you are pregnant, you can have the RSV vaccine from your 28th week of pregnancy. I would urge you to accept it and protect your baby from this distressing and potentially very serious illness.”
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said:
“RSV can be life-threatening for newborn infants, that is why it is so positive to see this evidence of the impact of the maternal RSV vaccine in helping to reduce the likelihood of hospitalisation in those aged 0-3 months by around 80% among mothers who received a vaccine compared to those who weren’t vaccinated.
“I strongly encourage all pregnant women who are offered the vaccine to take up the offer in order to protect their newborn babies."
Read our viral respiratory surveillance report.
For more information about the RSV vaccine during pregnancy visit nhsinform.scot/rsv-baby