Thousands of Britons over 75 could be saved every year by new vaccine created to fight killer virus - and it's available now By Storm Newton Published: 01:51, 25 September 2024 | Updated: 01:55, 25 September 2024 e-mail View comments A new vaccine that wards off a respiratory virus could save the lives of thousands of elderly people in the UK each year, according to a study. It could also help free up thousands of GP appointments and hospital beds, researchers said. The review by scientists at the University of Aberdeen and the MRC- University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research follows the NHS rollout last month of the respiratory syncytial virus ( RSV ) jab, which is being offered to people aged 75 and over, as well as pregnant women.
RSV typically causes cold-like symptoms in healthy adults, but babies and the elderly are at risk of severe infection. The study, published in Age & Ageing, said evidence suggests a 70 per cent take-up of the vaccine among the older age group could prevent up to 2,800 deaths a year. A new vaccine that wards off RSV could save the lives of thousands of elderly people in the UK each year, according to a study The virus is usually spread via coughs and sneezes, close contact with an infected person or contact with contaminated surfaces It could also free up 36,000 GP consultations and 1,000 admissions to intensive care.
According to the research, the vaccines were found to be 86 percent effective in preventing RSV-related lower respiratory tra.