Together against RSV

£14 million in lost productivity of parents and carers⁴

£1.5 million out-of-pocket costs incurred by parents and carers⁴

Between 2024/2025, RSV-related hospitalisation costs for infants 0-5 were £87.2 million. The majority of costs, £80.4 million, were for babies (0-1 year)⁵

There are around 467,000 visits to GPs (primary care physicians)⁴

There were 54,460 RSV-related admissions of infants under the age of 1.⁵ 13% required intensive care.⁶

The total economic cost of treating RSV in those under 5 years is estimated to be £102.7 million each year^4,5

RSV infections

Most RSV infections in babies are mild and clear up on their own within a few weeks, however, some cases can be more serious.⁷

In the UK, there are approximately 30,000 infants hospitalised each year due to RSV.⁵ Last year in England, there were 54,460 RSV-related hospital admissions for babies under 1 year.⁵ Bronchiolitis and pneumonia are examples of severe illnesses that can be caused by RSV.⁸

Who is at risk?

All infants are at risk of RSV.¹ While most infections cause mild, cold-like symptoms, it's important to be aware of RSV and understand how to spot the more severe symptoms.⁹

With the right information, parents, parents-to-be and caregivers can feel better prepared, reducing worry or stress at a time when life can be stressful enough.

How to prevent RSV

There are precautions you can take to help protect your baby from RSV. These are the same steps you might take to prevent other common viral infections like:¹⁰

• Washing or wiping down toys and cleaning surfaces regularly
• Not touching your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
• Using disposable tissues and throwing them away as soon as you've used them
• Trying to keep newborn babies away from anyone with a cold or the flu, especially if they were born prematurely or have serious health conditions