Pregnancy vaccination RSV Posted or Updated on 17 Sep 2025

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine

The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine helps protect your baby from RSV.

RSV is a virus that affects the lungs and how we breathe. It can cause a chest infection called bronchiolitis. This can make your baby very poorly and they may need to stay in hospital.

RSV is spread through coughs and sneezes. Symptoms of RSV are:

• Your baby might find it hard to breathe
• Your baby might not be hungry
• Your baby might have a cough
• Your baby might sleep more than normal
• Your baby might have a high temperature above 38 degrees Celsius
• Your baby might have an ear infection

The RSV vaccine will give your baby the best protection from RSV.

This protection passes from you to your baby through your placenta.

The RSV vaccine is given from 28 weeks pregnant.

The vaccine gives the best protection to your baby if it is given before you are 32 weeks pregnant.

The vaccine can still be given until your baby is born.

The RSV vaccine is an injection given into your arm.

It is recommended every pregnant woman should have the vaccine in every pregnancy.

Side effects from the vaccine are usually not serious.

Sometimes you can get a lump or pain where the injection was given, a high temperature, headache, feeling tired or not feeling hungry.

Not everyone gets side effects.

The RSV vaccine is safe.

The RSV vaccine is free.

It is important to be protected from serious disease.

Ask your GP or Midwife about the vaccine and to book an appointment.