A vaccination program in Scotland has significantly reduced hospital admissions for a common respiratory virus among older adults. A new study from the University of Strathclyde and Public Health Scotland (PHS) shows that hospitalizations due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) dropped by 62% after the program was introduced in August 2024.
The program offered a free RSV vaccine to adults aged 75–79, including those turning 75 before July 2025. By the end of November 2024, 68% of eligible people had received the vaccine, helping to protect them ahead of winter.
RSV is a highly contagious virus that affects the respiratory system. While it often causes mild cold-like symptoms, it can lead to severe illness in vulnerable groups, such as older adults. The study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, is the first to confirm that the RSV vaccination program is making a real difference in preventing serious illness and hospital stays.
Strong Evidence for Vaccine Effectiveness
Professor Chris Robertson from Strathclyde’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics, who worked on the study, emphasized how quickly the vaccine has shown success.
“Our data shows that the program has had rapid success, not only in reducing hospital admissions but also in achieving high vaccine uptake,” he said. He also stressed the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates in the future.
Dr. Sam Ghebrehewet, Head of Immunization and Vaccination at PHS, echoed this sentiment. “This study proves how effective the new RSV vaccine is in protecting those at higher risk. Public Health Scotland is working closely with local health boards to make sure as many people as possible get vaccinated,” he said.
The RSV vaccine is not only for older adults but is also offered to pregnant women. Vaccinating during pregnancy helps protect newborn babies from RSV, which can cause serious lung infections like pneumonia.
Public Encouraged to Get Vaccinated
Neil Gray, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, urged eligible individuals to take advantage of the vaccine. “RSV can be very serious for older adults, newborns, and infants. I strongly encourage everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated when invited. It’s one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect yourself or your baby from severe illness.”
This study highlights the major impact of the RSV vaccination program in just its first year. With continued efforts to encourage vaccine uptake, the program could help prevent even more hospitalizations and serious illnesses in the years to come.
If you care about COVID-19, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to severe COVID-19, death, and how diets could help manage post-COVID syndrome.
For more health information, please see recent studies that low-sodium plant-based diets may prevent COVID-19 better, and results showing zinc could help reduce COVID-19 infection risk.
The research findings can be found in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
