A vaccine aimed at young children to prevent them contracting Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is to be rolled out later this year, if plans are approved by the Government.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly is to present plans to Cabinet and it is thought the rollout would target 28,000 babies born between September of this year and February 2025.
Minister Donnelly is expected to tell ministerial colleagues that nearly 1,400 children under the age of one were hospitalised with the virus last year - the vast majority of whom were aged under six months.
RSV is most common in Ireland during the winter and early spring but almost all children contract it by the time they are two.
Sick little girl with a runny nose. Image: Martina Prosyanyk / Alamy"The advice to parents is just to be vigilant and watch their children," HSE Group Lead for Children Dr Ciara Martin told Newstalk.
"The symptoms are cough, wheeze and runny nose and not feeding as well - you get that with a lot of viruses.
"It must be said that most children with RSV will be fine.
"They'll have their infection for about a week or two and then it'll settle, though the cough may be there.
"The emergency signs for a very small baby is a baby who hasn't fed, who is not even taking half of what they normally feed.
"They may be blue around their lips, they may be floppy and pale or their breathing might be irregular.
"If you have any of those you should go to your nearest Emergency Department. If you're worried about your child's breathing in other ways go to your doctor".
More information on RSV can be found on the HSE’s website.
Main image: A baby recieves a vaccine.
