School of Infection & Immunity

Older people should take a new vaccine to protect them against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) according to new research involving the School of Infection & Immunity and Centre for Virus Research (CVR)'s Professor Antonia Ho.

In a new paper published in Age & Ageing, the team of scientists, which includes colleagues from the University of Aberdeen, reviewed the evidence on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines against RSV in older and frailer individuals.

They found the vaccines to be 86 per cent effective in preventing RSV-related lower respiratory tract infections in the first year after vaccination.

If uptake of the vaccine reaches 70 per cent, evidence suggests that up to 2,800 deaths could be prevented every year. Additionally, with at least 70 per cent uptake, around 36,000 GP consultations, 4,600 hospitalisations, and 1,000 ICU admissions could be avoided.

However, the authors warn of a culture of ‘vaccine fatigue’, as well as ‘vaccine hesitancy’, which could impact on the numbers of older people accepting the vaccine.

The review, titled Why the UK is vaccinating its older adult population against RSV—what geriatricians should know, comes in response to the UK launch of a new vaccination programme against RSV for 75- to 79-year-olds.

Known to cause serious lung infections in very young infants, there is growing evidence that RSV can also cause serious chest infections in the elderly population contributing to an estimated 8000 deaths and 175,000 GP interventions every year in the UK.

Antonia Ho, Professor of Infectious Diseases at the CVR, said: “The availability of the first effective RSV vaccines in the UK is really exciting.

"Along with existing influenza and covid-19 vaccines, they will allow us to protect vulnerable groups from serious lung infections, and reduce the enormous pressures faced by the NHS in the winter months.”

Professor Roy Soiza, who led the research at the University of Aberdeen, said: “The NHS is badly stretched, so efforts to reduce the healthcare burden from avoidable communicable diseases such as RSV infection are highly desirable. Although some sections of social media are often dominated by anti-vaccine messages, it is important that reliable public health messages cut through the noise.

“Our review found that the vaccines are safe and effective and we are calling on healthcare professionals and carers to encourage those invited to receive the vaccine to take up the opportunity. There is evidence of effectiveness in preventing RSV-related lower respiratory tract infections of around 86 percent in the first year after vaccination.

“Trials have been conducted in people aged over 60 years of age, including those with underlying medical conditions, but the number of volunteers aged 80 or over was too small to be certain of the extent of benefit. Nevertheless, we saw in the covid pandemic that the effectiveness of vaccines in trials of younger and healthier people was replicated in those who were much frailer and older. We therefore urge those with an interest in the care of older people to encourage those eligible and invited to have the new vaccine to take it.” 

Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, Head of Immunisation and Vaccination at Public Health Scotland, said: “The recent launch of Scotland’s new RSV vaccination programme marks another significant step forward to protect the health of the population.

“RSV can be very serious for those who are more vulnerable, such as older adults. In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in those aged 75 years and over being hospitalised for RSV. That’s why we’re asking all those who are eligible for the RSV vaccine to take up the offer to protect themselves against the more serious complications of an RSV infection.”

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Enquiries: ali.howard@glasgow.ac.uk or elizabeth.mcmeekin@glasgow.ac.uk

First published: 3 October 2024