The localised impact of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) on infants, families and the NHS

Rebecca Catterick General Manager, Sanofi Vaccines UK and Ireland

RSV is a respiratory virus that impacts nearly all infants by the age of two.1 While in most cases the virus is mild,2 it can also lead to more severe complications as the leading cause of bronchiolitis in infants.3

The Royal College of Physicians has stated how the cost-of-living crisis could negatively impact population health in the 2022-23 winter season, with access to heating, healthier foods and travel to medical appointments restricted.4 Combined with the expected surge in respiratory virus transmissions this winter,5 NHS services may be under pressure to provide the necessary support infants and families impacted by RSV require.

At Sanofi, we recognise the impact that COVID-19 has had on the NHS and the additional difficulty of managing forthcoming winter seasons as COVID-19 potentially co-circulates with flu, RSV and other respiratory viruses.6 Using Hospital Episode Statistics data, we have been able to highlight the impact of RSV at the constituency level to support in understanding the burden RSV places on local health systems.

In the last pre-pandemic year in England (April 2019 to March 2020), children under five with RSV were admitted for a total of 107,451 bed days7 which, on average, cost local health services in each constituency £139,792.7 Costs in some constituencies were as high as £478,119, however some were as low as £50,139.7 This variation shows the regional disparities of the RSV burden.

Despite this burden, RSV is under-recognised by the general population.8 Furthermore, a lack of data on the prevalence of the virus means that the burden of RSV in infants and children could be greater than estimates suggest.9

Enhanced understanding of RSV could contribute to increased prioritisation across the NHS, while also enhancing the care that infants and their families receive.