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<p>NHS England has not made specific assessments of the impact of infant respiratory
syncytial virus (RSV) on paediatric intensive care bed capacity, National Health Service
elective care capacity, and general practice visits, as RSV is often accompanied by
other respiratory viruses and bacterial infections, and it is therefore difficult
to measure the exact contribution of RSV. Neither has the Department assessed the
wider productivity and economic benefits of RSV specifically.</p><p> </p><p>The NHS
plans for a wide range of scenarios ahead of each winter, and will continue to adapt
plans based on respiratory infections surveillance, including RSV, and NHS activity
data. This includes specialised commissioning led winter surge planning for paediatric
critical care, as well as wider winter planning. For RSV specifically, this includes
the annual immunisation programme, which continues to be managed and reviewed in accordance
with advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). For 2024
to 2025, preparedness may include rolling out a new RSV vaccination programme following
the JCVI’s recommendations issued in September 2023, subject to approval from the
Department.</p><p> </p><p>The health impact of infant RSV was assessed in a scientific
paper published in Lancet Regional Health Europe in January 2024, and has been assessed
previously in scientific papers published by Public Health England and others. This
work contributed to the JCVI’s assessment of RSV’s impact, and advice to implement
an immunisation programme to prevent infant RSV.</p>
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