Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what further steps they will take to ensure that the Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccine is commissioned for all infants for the 2024/25 winter season sessions.

An immunisation programme to protect infants with a vaccine during pregnancy will begin in England from 1 September 2024, to protect infants from 2024/25 onwards. The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) maternal vaccination programme will be delivered by National Health Service trust providers via maternity services and immunisation providers. They will ensure that pregnant women are informed of their eligibility for the RSV vaccine, and are invited for their vaccination. General practices will also be able to deliver the maternal vaccine on an opportunistic basis, or if requested by the patient.

Pregnant women will be offered the immunisation from 28 weeks of pregnancy until full term, to protect their baby during the first six months of life when they are most vulnerable to RSV complications. The programme will be offered year-round. Further to the national programme, the high-risk programme for eligible infants will continue. This will be offered to eligible infants independent of their mother receiving the maternal vaccine.