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Data from the UK Health Security Agency shows that admissions of infants under six months to intensive care for respiratory syncytial virus dropped by 50 per cent during the first full year of the maternal vaccination programme
According to the UKHSA annual report, surveillance across 20 NHS trusts recorded 63 infants under six months admitted to intensive care or high dependency units with confirmed RSV chest infections during the 2025–2026 winter season.
This represents a 50 per cent decrease from the 131 admissions reported by the same hospital trusts in 2024–2025.
The report evaluates the initial impact of the maternal vaccination scheme introduced in September 2024, which offers the vaccine to pregnant women from 28 weeks of pregnancy. Between March 2025 and February 2026, 61.7 per cent of women giving birth had received the vaccine.
Maternal antibodies pass through the placenta to provide newborns with immediate protection against severe disease from birth.
Reduced A&E demand and altered seasonal trends
In addition to reducing intensive care admissions, the maternal vaccine contributed to lower hospital emergency department attendances for bronchiolitis, a common lung infection primarily caused by RSV.
Peak weekly A&E attendances for infant bronchiolitis were lower than in previous years, and the peak season was shorter.
The overall 2025–2026 RSV season started later than usual, with cases rising in early November, peaking in December, and declining to low levels by March 2026.
Prior UKHSA research presented at the ESCMID conference indicates that maternal vaccination provides over 80 per cent protection against hospital admission for newborn infants.
Senior adult outcomes and broader impact
The annual report also examined the impact of the RSV vaccine rollout among older adults. By the end of May 2026, 65 per cent of eligible adults had received their vaccine.
Vaccine impact analysis across England demonstrated a sustained reduction of over 40 per cent in RSV-related hospitalisations among adults aged 75 to 80 years. Health officials advise that pregnant women past 28 weeks contact their maternity services or GP practices to arrange vaccination prior to the autumn virus season.