Background
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the leading causes of hospital admission in young infants. In September 2024, the UK introduced a maternal RSV vaccination programme to help protect babies during their first months of life. While the vaccine performed well in clinical trials, important questions remain about how long protection lasts, whether the timing of vaccination during pregnancy matters, and how well babies born prematurely are protected.
Aim
This study aims to understand how babies develop protection against RSV following maternal vaccination and identify the optimal timing of vaccination during pregnancy to maximise protection for infants, including those born prematurely.
Methods
The study recruits mothers and babies through the Born and Bred in Bradford (BaBi) research programme. Researchers collect blood and nasal samples from babies during their first year of life, alongside maternal samples where appropriate, to measure immune responses and understand how protection changes over time.
The study compares babies whose mothers were vaccinated at different stages of pregnancy and includes premature infants, who are at greater risk of severe RSV disease.
Expected Impact
The findings will help optimise the UK’s maternal RSV vaccination programme by providing evidence on vaccine timing, duration of protection and protection for vulnerable infants. The research will support national decision-makers, including the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and help inform future immunisation policy and practice. Longer term, the study could contribute to reduced RSV-related hospital admissions, improved infant health outcomes and more equitable protection across different communities.
Further Information
The project is led by John Wright, with Jonathan Broad, NIHR Doctoral Fellow at the University of Oxford, as the main study contact. The study is delivered in partnership with the University of Oxford and the Born and Bred in Bradford (BaBi) research programme. The study runs from September 2025 to September 2028.
