Experts fear thousands of older people could be at risk of life-threatening heart problems unless the Government approves the use of a new jab in the NHS.
Doctors advised ministers almost 18 months ago to develop a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Although mainly found in babies, the virus also affects the elderly, killing around 4,000 people over the age of 75 each winter in the UK from complications such as pneumonia. However, plans to introduce the vaccine have not yet been announced.
Now alarming new research showing that RSV infection can lead to life-threatening heart complications in the elderly has led to new calls for the vaccine to soon be available to some 5.5 million older people.
Now, alarming new research showing that RSV infection can lead to potentially fatal heart complications in the elderly has led to renewed calls for the vaccine to be available soon for an estimated 5.5 million older people (File Image)
The data, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, analyzed more than 6,000 elderly American patients in their 70s diagnosed with RSV between 2014 and 2023.
A fifth suffered a serious heart crisis related to the virus, most commonly sudden heart failure.
Heart risks were even higher in those who already had some element of heart disease, such as high blood pressure or blocked arteries.
RSV is transmitted through large droplets and the virus can survive on surfaces for up to seven hours.
A vaccine, called Arexvy, has been approved for use in the UK in adults aged 60 and over. Studies show it is at least 80 percent effective in preventing RSV infections.
Professor Adam Finn, an infectious diseases expert and professor of paediatrics at the University of Bristol, told The Mail on Sunday: “It has been known for some time that RSV infection can present as heart failure. This research adds further evidence of the severity of this infection in older people, especially those with underlying heart disease.
‘I am optimistic that we will see the rollout of an RSV vaccine program this year. I hope that the disruption caused by the election does not jeopardize this in any way.”
The Department of Health said it was working on the full business case, aiming to finalize an agreement in time to start in the autumn.
