RSV infection causes hospitalisations, including some serious illness, especially among young infants

Each winter, 4 out of every 100 infants are hospitalised due to RSV, some needing ICU care.

A further 50 out of every 100 infants infected need medical care from their GP, pharmacist, or the paediatric emergency department.

RSV immunisation protects young babies and helps safeguard vital hospital paediatric services during the very busy winter months

This programme was very successful last year with almost 22,500 babies immunised, 83% of those offered immunisation accepted it for their babies.

Among those immunised, there was a significant 65% reduction in total number of cases, 57% reduction in cases presenting to emergency departments: 76% reduction in babies requiring hospitalisation, 65% reduction in babies needing intensive care due to complications of RSV, compared to similar babies the previous year who were not immunised.

Nirsevimab provides immunisation shortly after the injection is administered and protects against RSV for 150 days.

Nirsevimab is strongly recommended by the HSE and the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and has been approved by the European Medicines Agency.

For babies in Ireland, born from 1 March 2025 to 31 August 2025, parents can book an appointment, through the online portal, at a location and time that is convenient to them: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/rsv/immunisation/

Further information is available at https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/rsv/immunisation/ and https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/respiratorysyncytialvirus/immunisation/ (including parent information leaflets).