Infants under six months admitted to intensive care units (ICU) or higher dependency units (HDU) with confirmed respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) chest infection in England decreased by approximately 50% during the 2025-26 winter season. This reduction is detailed in the UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA) annual report, which highlights the impact of the NHS RSV maternal vaccination programme.
Data from 20 NHS trusts participating in surveillance showed 63 infants under six months were admitted to ICU or HDU with RSV in 2025-26, compared to 131 in the same trusts during the previous 2024-25 season. The maternal vaccination programme, which began in September 2024, is offered to pregnant women from 28 weeks to protect newborns from severe RSV illness.
Between March 2025 and February 2026, 61.7% of women giving birth had received an RSV vaccine. Dr Conall Watson, Immunisation Consultant at UKHSA, stated that intensive care admissions have halved since the programme's introduction, and A&E bronchiolitis attendances are also down.
The report also indicated that peak weekly infant bronchiolitis A&E attendances in England were lower and the peak season shorter in 2025-26 compared to previous seasons. RSV cases last winter did not start to rise until early November and peaked in December 2025, occurring later than in prior seasons.