PARENTS in Limerick and the greater Mid West will soon be able to avail of a free immunisation programme to protect their babies from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this winter.
Limerick already has the highest uptake of the vaccine in the country through the University Maternity Hospital Limerick, where over 88 per cent of mothers availed of the free initiative babies last year.
Thanks to hundreds of families availing of the programme, this helped to significantly reduce respiratory infections, serious illness and hospitalisations among infants, a HSE Midwest spokesman said.
Every winter, RSV infection causes hospitalisations, including some serious illness, especially among young infants.
Before the introduction of the programme, each winter, four 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 had to be seen at the emergency department at University Hospital Limerick.
This winter season, the HSE will once again offer RSV immunisation in maternity settings to all babies born in Ireland from September 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026, as well as extending the programme to all babies in Ireland born between March 1 and August 31, 2025, across various community sites.
Parents of babies born from March 1 to August 31 can book an appointment at a local community site on hse.ie/conditions/rsv/immunisation.
It is important to note that appointments will only be available from September 1 and until first week in October 2025.
Parents and guardians are advised to book early to ensure their child is protected ahead of any winter surge in RSV infections.
Parents of babies born between September 1 this year and February 28, 2026, will be offered the immunisation before they leave the maternity hospital.
Dr Breda Cosgrove, consultant in public health medicine at Public Health HSE Mid West, said that “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 six months or younger to have them immunised against RSV.”
