Latest news with #MikeNesbitt
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
RSV vaccine to be offered to premature babies in NI
A vaccination programme to tackle respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is to be extended to cover premature babies born in Northern Ireland. A long-acting injection is to be offered for eligible children from this autumn. RSV is a common, but highly infectious, respiratory virus that affects the breathing system, particularly in young children and older adults. It infects 90% of children by the age of two and is one of the leading causes of hospitalisation in the first year of life. An RSV vaccine has been available to pregnant women in Northern Ireland since last September and is offered from 28 weeks of pregnancy. The new programme will cover those infants born very prematurely and too early to benefit from the RSV vaccination given to their mothers. The single Nirsevimab injection offers about 80% protection and replaces Palivizumab, which gives 55% protection and is administered up to five times. It follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. Chief Medical Officer Sir Michael McBride said: "Vaccinations have been extremely effective in eradicating diseases and protecting children and other vulnerable groups from serious illness and death. "Worryingly, we are now seeing a decline in the uptake of childhood immunisations. "Vaccinations offer children the very best start in life. Quite simply, if children aren't vaccinated, they're not protected." Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said the new vaccine would strengthen winter preparedness in the health service and reduce pressures on GPs, emergency departments and hospital admissions.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
RSV vaccine to be offered to premature babies in NI
A vaccination programme to tackle respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is to be extended to cover premature babies born in Northern Ireland. A long-acting injection is to be offered for eligible children from this autumn. RSV is a common, but highly infectious, respiratory virus that affects the breathing system, particularly in young children and older adults. It infects 90% of children by the age of two and is one of the leading causes of hospitalisation in the first year of life. An RSV vaccine has been available to pregnant women in Northern Ireland since last September and is offered from 28 weeks of pregnancy. The new programme will cover those infants born very prematurely and too early to benefit from the RSV vaccination given to their mothers. The single Nirsevimab injection offers about 80% protection and replaces Palivizumab, which gives 55% protection and is administered up to five times. It follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. Chief Medical Officer Sir Michael McBride said: "Vaccinations have been extremely effective in eradicating diseases and protecting children and other vulnerable groups from serious illness and death. "Worryingly, we are now seeing a decline in the uptake of childhood immunisations. "Vaccinations offer children the very best start in life. Quite simply, if children aren't vaccinated, they're not protected." Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said the new vaccine would strengthen winter preparedness in the health service and reduce pressures on GPs, emergency departments and hospital admissions.
ITV News
2 days ago
- Health
- ITV News
RSV vaccine to be offered to vulnerable babies in Northern Ireland
Premature babies are soon to be offered a vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).Pregnant women in Northern Ireland have been offered access to the vaccination from 28 weeks since September 2024. The new roll-out will aim to protect babies born prematurely, too early to benefit from the vaccination that was given to their mother. The Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has encouraged parents and guardians of those eligible to get the injection in order to protect their baby from illness. RSV can lead to a severe lung infection called bronchiolitis, which is dangerous in babies and can result in them being admitted to intensive is the main infectious cause of hospitalisation for babies in the UK and globally. Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: 'The risk of contracting RSV for children born very prematurely in their first winter is extremely serious and has a significant impact on our health service each year. My Department has approved using this new vaccine in line with the approach being taken across the other UK nations.'This innovative vaccine further strengthens our winter preparedness to prevent avoidable hospital admissions and reduce pressures on GPs and Emergency Departments. It follows on from the launch of an RSV vaccination programme for pregnant women and adults aged 75-79 years old last year.'I would encourage parents and guardians of those eligible to avail of the vaccination to help protect their baby from illness.'Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Michael McBride said: 'RSV is a potentially serious virus, particularly for very young babies. Vaccinations have been extremely effective in eradicating diseases and protecting children and other vulnerable groups from serious illness and death.'Worryingly, we are now seeing a decline in the uptake of childhood immunisations. Vaccinations offer children the very best start in life. Quite simply, if children aren't vaccinated, they're not protected.' The new programme is expected to come into effect in autumn 2025.
Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
RSV vaccine to be offered to premature babies in NI from autumn, health officials announce
Chief Medical Officer Sir Michael McBride said it will strengthen protection against the potentially serious respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). RSV is a common cause of coughs and colds and infections are very common. Almost all children get them at least once before they are two years old. They're not usually serious, but some babies and adults have a higher risk of getting seriously ill, including babies under six months old and young children who were born prematurely, according to the NHS. An RSV vaccine has been available to pregnant women here since last September and is offered from 28 weeks of pregnancy. Now, a long-acting injection will be offered for eligible children from this autumn, the Department of Health said. Nirsevimab will replace the current jab, Palivizumab, following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in February 2023. It offers over 80% protection against the virus and is administered as a single injection that provides protection right through an RSV season – from September to February each year. Kneecap to face no further action from police after Glastonbury performance Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: 'The risk of contracting RSV for children born very prematurely in their first winter is extremely serious and has a significant impact on our health service each year. 'My department has approved using this new vaccine in line with the approach being taken across the other UK nations. 'This innovative vaccine further strengthens our winter preparedness to prevent avoidable hospital admissions and reduce pressures on GPs and emergency departments. 'It follows on from the launch of an RSV vaccination programme for pregnant women and adults aged 75-79 years old last year. 'I would encourage parents and guardians of those eligible to avail of the vaccination to help protect their baby from illness.' Chief Medical Officer Sir Michael McBride said: 'RSV is a potentially serious virus, particularly for very young babies. 'Vaccinations have been extremely effective in eradicating diseases and protecting children and other vulnerable groups from serious illness and death. 'Worryingly, we are now seeing a decline in the uptake of childhood immunisations. Vaccinations offer children the very best start in life. Quite simply, if children aren't vaccinated, they're not protected.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
RSV vaccine to be offered to premature babies in Northern Ireland
A vaccination programme to tackle respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is to be extended to cover premature babies born in Northern Ireland.A long-acting injection is to be offered for eligible children from this is a common, but highly infectious, respiratory virus that affects the breathing system, particularly in young children and older infects 90% of children by the age of two and is one of the leading causes of hospitalisation in the first year of life. An RSV vaccine has been available to pregnant women in Northern Ireland since last September and is offered from 28 weeks of new programme will cover those infants born very prematurely and too early to benefit from the RSV vaccination given to their single Nirsevimab injection offers about 80% protection and replaces Palivizumab, which gives 55% protection and is administered up to five follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. Chief Medical Officer Sir Michael McBride said: "Vaccinations have been extremely effective in eradicating diseases and protecting children and other vulnerable groups from serious illness and death."Worryingly, we are now seeing a decline in the uptake of childhood immunisations."Vaccinations offer children the very best start in life. Quite simply, if children aren't vaccinated, they're not protected."Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said the new vaccine would strengthen winter preparedness in the health service and reduce pressures on GPs, emergency departments and hospital admissions.
