The Minister for Health should make the RSV vaccination available for all babies, the President of the Irish Medical Council has urged. 

Only babies born after September 1st will get the injection this year and a campaign has been launched to get all children under the age of two vaccinated. 

Community pharmacist Sheena Mitchell is urging Minister Donnelly to widen the criteria for vaccination before the Dáil breaks up for the summer.

“Stephen Donnelly is well aware that the Dáil recess is coming and unfortunately they won’t be back sitting until the middle of September by which time RVS season will have already started,” she said. 

“He has one chance now to get the ball rolling; if we let this go by, hundreds of babies are going to end up in hospital this year.

“This is an avoidable risk and I plead with our Government to avoid it.” 

A baby on its tummy. Image: MBI / Alamy

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee recommended the vaccination be made available to all babies this winter and Ms Mitchell believes this makes sense as all babies are at risk from the virus. 

“The Government is only proposing to immunise those born between September and February,” she said. 

“Whereas we know that there is equal risk of hospitalisation for babies under six months of age.

“So, those who are under six months of age at the start of September should indeed be immunised at the start of the season.

“This could lead to a further reduction in hospitalisation.”

Symptoms of RSV infection are similar to those of a cold and can include:

• A cough
• Wheezing
• A runny nose
• Difficulty feeding or decreased appetite
• A fever (temperature of 38C or higher)
• A sore throat

Anyone who suspects their child is very unwell because of RSV should take them to a doctor.

Main image: A young baby. Picture by: Alamy.com. 1 September 2014