Latest news with #Respiratorysyncytialvirus
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RSV vaccine cuts hospital stays for older people
A vaccination programme introduced to protect babies and older adults against a dangerous respiratory disease has cut hospital stays for older people. The RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) jab was given for the first time in Scotland last August. Research by Public Health Scotland (PHS), published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases Journal, shows uptake of the vaccine resulted in a 62% reduction in RSV-related hospitalisations among the eligible 75-79 age group. Health Secretary Neil Gray welcomed the report and said the Scottish government had invested £4.2m for health boards to roll out vaccines. RSV affects the breathing system and can cause severe illness in vulnerable groups, including infants and older people. It is the leading cause of emergency respiratory admissions to hospital in infants. In 2022-23, more than 1,500 infants under the age of one and more than 500 people aged 75 and over were hospitalised with RSV, according to Public Health Scotland. Across the UK as a whole, it results in 25-30 infant deaths each year. While for many the symptoms are mild, the infection is easily spread and 90% of children will catch it within the first two years of their lives. The PHS research found a significant effect on the older population who were eligible for the vaccine. By the end of November, 68% of eligible older adults had received their RSV jabs which caused a reduction in hospital care for the virus. Neil Gray said: "Once again we see evidence of the role which vaccinations play in preventing serious illness and keeping people out of hospital. "We were pleased to be the first nation in the UK to introduce the new RSV vaccine in time to maximise the benefit to the more vulnerable ahead of winter. "This research demonstrates just how many people avoided ending up in hospital as a result. Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, head of immunisation and vaccination at PHS, said the body would continue working with local health boards to ensure as many people as possible receive their vaccine. He said: "Vaccinations have played a major role in protecting the health of people across the globe over the last 50 years and the success of the RSV programme marks another significant step in protecting the population of Scotland against preventable diseases." The success of the RSV vaccine comes after a warning in early January that there had been a decline in uptake of the flu jab. Around two thirds of those classed as being at risk for flu and three quarters of those at risk of Covid were at that point yet to be vaccinated. RSV is a common and highly infectious virus affecting the breathing system. Symptoms of RSV usually start within a few days of getting infected. According to the NHS, most people only get cold-like symptoms, such as: a runny or blocked nose sneezing a cough tiredness a high temperature Babies with RSV may also be irritable and feed less than usual. If RSV leads to a more serious infection (such as bronchiolitis) it may also cause: a cough that gets worse faster breathing or long gaps between breaths difficulty feeding or eating noisy breathing (wheezing) New vaccine for respiratory disease rolls out in Scotland RSV jabs start for pregnant women and older people Ill baby's mum urges pregnant women to get RSV jab
BBC News
14-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
RSV
A vaccination programme introduced to protect babies and older adults against a dangerous respiratory disease has cut hospital stays for older RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) jab was given for the first time in Scotland last by Public Health Scotland (PHS), published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases Journal, shows uptake of the vaccine resulted in a 62% reduction in RSV-related hospitalisations among the eligible 75-79 age Secretary Neil Gray welcomed the report and said the Scottish government had invested £4.2m for health boards to roll out vaccines. RSV affects the breathing system and can cause severe illness in vulnerable groups, including infants and older is the leading cause of emergency respiratory admissions to hospital in 2022-23, more than 1,500 infants under the age of one and more than 500 people aged 75 and over were hospitalised with RSV, according to Public Health the UK as a whole, it results in 25-30 infant deaths each for many the symptoms are mild, the infection is easily spread and 90% of children will catch it within the first two years of their lives. The PHS research found a significant effect on the older population who were eligible for the the end of November, 68% of eligible older adults had received their RSV jabs which caused a reduction in hospital care for the Gray said: "Once again we see evidence of the role which vaccinations play in preventing serious illness and keeping people out of hospital."We were pleased to be the first nation in the UK to introduce the new RSV vaccine in time to maximise the benefit to the more vulnerable ahead of winter."This research demonstrates just how many people avoided ending up in hospital as a Sam Ghebrehewet, head of immunisation and vaccination at PHS, said the body would continue working with local health boards to ensure as many people as possible receive their said: "Vaccinations have played a major role in protecting the health of people across the globe over the last 50 years and the success of the RSV programme marks another significant step in protecting the population of Scotland against preventable diseases."The success of the RSV vaccine comes after a warning in early January that there had been a decline in uptake of the flu two thirds of those classed as being at risk for flu and three quarters of those at risk of Covid were at that point yet to be vaccinated. What is RSV and what are the symptoms? RSV is a common and highly infectious virus affecting the breathing of RSV usually start within a few days of getting to the NHS, most people only get cold-like symptoms, such as:a runny or blocked nosesneezinga coughtirednessa high temperatureBabies with RSV may also be irritable and feed less than RSV leads to a more serious infection (such as bronchiolitis) it may also cause:a cough that gets worsefaster breathing or long gaps between breathsdifficulty feeding or eatingnoisy breathing (wheezing)
BBC News
31-01-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Twelve-hour trolley waits at Scarborough Hospital "very high"
The number of people waiting on trolleys for more than 12 hours at a North Yorkshire hospital has been described as "absolutely appalling" by the boss of one NHS trust.A report has revealed 1,057 patients waited on trolleys for more than 12 hours at Scarborough Hospital in December, during an '"incredibly tough" winter Morritt, the chief executive of the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, praised hospital staff for "working tremendously hard to provide safe care".It comes after the planned opening of Scarborough Hospital's new £47m urgent and emergency care centre (UECC) in November was delayed until spring this year, due to a malfunctioning boiler. Alternative pathways Speaking at an NHS Trust board meeting this week, Mr Morritt said it was "impossible to ignore the increased activity coming through the doors of our emergency departments"."The usual increase in flu cases and other seasonal viruses arrived earlier than last year, adding to the pressures," he report, presented to the board on Wednesday, acknowledged the number of 12 hour-plus trolley waits last month was "very high".Simon Barkley, chair of the York and Scarborough NHS Trust, described the number of people waiting on trolleys for more than 12 hours as "absolutely appalling".He noted, however, that the figures showed a 10% improvement compared to a year ago. Figures released by NHS England confirmed 2024 was the busiest year ever for emergency departments and ambulance services in England, while December saw the highest number of ambulance incidents recorded in a single Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Norovirus have impacted hospital admissions across the region - and, more widely, across the number of patients in hospital with Norovirus was up by 50% compared with the same period last year, and the number of children in hospital with RSV was up by 47%.To help "manage and maintain flow" at the hospital, Mr Morritt said the Trust had been "focusing on discharge... ensuring discharge planning starts as early as possible following an admission".He added: "We are also supporting teams to optimise alternative pathways, such as the virtual wards, the Urgent Treatment Centre, and the assessment areas - to make sure that we only admit patients if we absolutely must.""In addition, we are continuing to encourage staff to have their flu and Covid vaccinations," he concluded. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
