New appointments opened for RSV Immunisation Clinics in Roscommon
The HSE is urging parents to make sure that their children are immunised against RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) this winter.
With the anticipated rise in RSV winter and the significant demand for further clinics from parents, HSE West and North West said it is providing parents in Roscommon another opportunity to get their baby immunised. New RSV immunisation appointments will be available from November 17th to December 12th at clinics in Roscommon.
The HSE is strongly advising parents of babies born between March 1st to August 31st 2025 who did not avail of the opportunity in September to book early to ensure their baby is protected ahead of any surge in RSV infections.
According to Dr Áine McNamara, Regional Director of Public Health, HSE West and North West; “The HSE has RSV immunisation clinics running across the West and North West region over the coming weeks to help make it easy and convenient for parents with young babies to avail of this immunisation, free of charge. We know RSV immunisation works. Immunisation is the most effective and safest way to protect your baby from RSV this winter.” “The RSV infection can cause serious illness, necessitating hospitalisation, especially among young infants. Prior to the introduction of the programme, each winter 4 out of every 100 infants were hospitalised due to RSV, with some babies needing special treatment in intensive care units. A further 50 out of every 100 infants were infected with RSV, with many needing medical care from their GP, pharmacist, or paediatric emergency department.”
The RSV catch-up programme during September and early October 2025 achieved a national uptake rate of 45.5% amongst eligible infants. The RSV immunisation programme targeting newborn babies has so far achieved a cumulative uptake of 89% since the programme commenced on 1 September, we want to continue to build on that and ensure that we protect as many babies as possible from RSV this winter.
This programme was hugely successful last year, with almost 22,500 babies immunised, 83% of those offered immunisation accepted it for their babies. Among those immunised (compared to similar babies the previous year who were not immunised), there was a significant decrease in the impact of RSV including:
· 65% reduction in total number of 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.
The RSV immunisation, nirsevimab, is strongly recommended by the HSE and the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) 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 150 days, covering the very early period in a baby’s life when they are most vulnerable to serious RSV related illness.
The HSE is urging parents of babies in Roscommon born from March 1st to August 31st 2025 to book an appointment while parents of babies born from September 1st to February 28th 2026 will be offered the immunisation before they leave the maternity hospital.
The immunisation is provided free of charge and is provided through an injection into the baby’s leg which will protect them against RSV throughout the winter.
