Clare parents urged to avail of free RSV immunisation programme for babies

Parents in Clare will soon be able to avail of a free immunisation programme that will protect their babies from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this winter season.

The HSE is building on the success of last year’s 'RSV Immunisation Pathfinder Programme', where over 88% of mothers availed of the free initiative for their babies at University Maternity Hospital Limerick. This was one of the highest uptake rates in the country. 

For the hundreds of families who availed of this programme, it helped to significantly reduce respiratory infections, serious illness and hospitalisations among infants. 

Headline statistics from the last winter programme show:

• 65% reduction in total number of RSV 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

Every winter, RSV infection causes hospitalisations, and some serious illnesses, especially among young infants.

Before the introduction of the programme, each winter, 4 out of every 100 infants were hospitalised due to RSV, with some infants needing special treatment in intensive care units. 

A further 50 out of every 100 infants got RSV and many needed medical care from their GP or the emergency department.

This winter season, the HSE will once again offer RSV immunisation in maternity settings to all babies born in Ireland from September 1 to February, 28, 2026 as well as extending the programme to all babies in Ireland born in the six month period from 1 March to 31 August of this year across various community sites.

Parents of babies born from March to August can book their appointment at a local community site now on the RSV Immunisation page of the HSE website: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/rsv/immunisation/

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Appointments will only be available from September 1 and until the first week in October. Parents and guardians are advised to book early to ensure their child is protected ahead of any surge in RSV infections later in the autumn and winter. 

Parents of babies born from September 1 to February 28, 2026 will be offered the immunisation before they leave the maternity hospital.

Dr Breda Cosgrove, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Public Health HSE Mid West commented on this, saying: “Every year, we see high levels of RSV infections during the winter months and young infants have a higher risk of getting seriously ill. Immunisation against RSV is the best way to protect your baby so we are encouraging all parents of newborn babies and infants aged 6 months or younger to have them immunised against RSV.

“This immunisation – called nirsevimab – is strongly recommended by the HSE and the National Immunisation Advisory Committee and has been approved by the European Medicines Agency. Nirsevimab starts working as soon as the baby receives the injection and protects against RSV for about 150 days. It will protect your baby from getting very sick from RSV during the winter season when the virus will be circulating in the community," she added. 

Professor Roy Philip, Consultant Neonatologist and Paediatrician, University Maternity Hospital Limerick, stated: “This expanded programme will offer an immediate protection from RSV for babies, from the first days after birth up to six months of age, offering extra reassurance  to parents across the Mid-West region as we head into another winter period. Last year’s programme was so successful, and significantly reduced the RSV-associated hospital admissions of young infants.

“As well as protecting young babies against serious illness, the RSV immunisation programme will help safeguard vital hospital paediatric services during the very busy winter months by limiting preventable admissions caused by RSV related illness.  

“The immunisation is provided free of charge and is provided through a jab into the baby’s leg and will protect them against RSV throughout the winter. It will also help our hospitals by stopping babies getting sick with an avoidable illness," he concluded. 

RSV is a largely seasonal respiratory illness that can affect any age group but can be particularly impactful on very young children. It is a significant cause of severe respiratory illness among children under two years of age and is also the most common cause of hospital admissions due to acute respiratory illness in young children.  RSV can cause chest infections like bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lungs) in infants and the risk is highest in children aged less than six months of age. 

The RSV immunisation programme is being delivered by trained midwives in all maternity settings after birth and before the baby is discharged and by the immunization  teams in the community for children born since March 1 as well as at home for higher risk babies, including those who are premature.