Older adults and pregnant women in Lanarkshire encouraged to protect against highly infectious respiratory virus

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Public Health Scotland (PHS) is encouraging older adults and pregnant women in Lanarkshire to get themselves vaccinated against a common and highly infectious respiratory virus that affects the breathing system.With Scotland’s Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination programme set to begin later this summer, the public health body is alerting older adults to look out for the arrival of invitation letters.There were over 1000 cases of RSV recorded in adults aged 75 and over in Scotland, with more than half (535) having to spend time in hospital as a result.

RSV is also the leading cause of emergency respiratory admissions to hospital in Scotland in infants, with 1516 children aged under one hospitalised with the virus last year.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android RSV generally causes mild illness with cold-like symptoms, such as a runny nose, cough, fever, or decrease in appetite.

Most people recover after two to three weeks, but the virus can affect the lower airways in some people and cause severe illnesses such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis, leading to complications and hospitalisation.Following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), PHS has been working with the Scottish Government and NHS boards to develop plans for the roll out of Scotland’s RSV