Mum calls for pregnant women to get RSV vaccine

Oscar (pictured) was admitted to Kettering General Hospital several times when he had RSV

A mother has urged expectant women to get a new vaccine to protect their unborn babies, after her son had to go to hospital three times with a respiratory virus.

Natasha D'Amore, 31, from Finedon, Northamptonshire, said her second child Oscar contracted respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) three times in his first 15 months, leading to severe bronchiolitis.

He was put on a drip and had to be intubated on the Skylark Ward at Kettering General Hospital (KGH) for several days in 2015, and again in 2016.

With a new baby on the way, Ms D'Amore said: "I would urge all expectant mothers to have this vaccination because it is so awful and scary to have a baby with RSV."

It is a common winter virus causing coughs and colds, but it can cause severe and sometimes life-threatening breathing difficulties in babies.

About 20,000 babies are taken to hospital in England each year with illnesses linked to RSV, with up to 30 related deaths.

Mrs D'Amore is currently 37 weeks pregnant with her third child.

Speaking about what happened nine years ago, she said: "You are so frightened.

"You just don't know how long it will last and if he will recover, and every time they get poorly you think the worst - you don't want to go through this if you can avoid it.

"Any protection that could be offered to reduce the chance of our baby from going through that experience when they arrive is well worth it."

Natasha and Joe D'Amore pictured with their boys Theo (front), 11, and Oscar, who is now nine

The NHS says the RSV vaccine is recommended from 28 weeks of pregnancy, to protect the baby for the first few months after birth.

National clinical trials have shown the vaccines are 70% effective at preventing severe RSV infection in infants born to vaccinated mothers.

Dr Nick Barnes, lead neonatal and cardiology consultant at Northampton General Hospital, said: "Over 60% of children are currently infected with RSV by their first birthday.

"Infants aged less than six months frequently develop the most severe disease (bronchiolitis and pneumonia) that may result in hospitalisation."

The vaccines are being offered to pregnant women at 28 weeks at both Kettering and Northampton general hospitals.