iHV supports national vaccination campaign to protect newborns this winter

iHV welcomes and supports the Government’s national campaign urging expectant mothers to get vaccinated against flu, RSV and whooping cough to protect their babies this winter.

The Department of Health and Social Care campaign – ‘Stay Strong. Get Vaccinated’ – uses bubble wrap imagery to show how vaccination during pregnancy passes life-saving antibodies through the placenta to protect newborns.

It comes as the NHS ramps up preparations for winter to provide the safest possible care for patients, with local NHS leaders taking part in “stress test” exercises and providing targeted care for the most vulnerable.

Alongside this, patients are being urged to protect themselves and their families against winter viruses – to help take pressure off hardworking staff and ensure care is there for patients when they need it most.

Health Minister, Ashley Dalton, said:

“We urge expectant mothers to come forward for their flu, RSV and whooping cough jabs – it’s one of the most powerful ways to protect your baby through those critical first months.

“Winter is always tough for the NHS but we are working hard to ramp up preparations so the health service is ready for patients when they need it.

“Let’s work together to protect ourselves and ease pressure on our NHS – the single best way you can protect yourself and your family is by getting vaccinated.”

The multi-channel campaign supported by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England will be shown across TV, video on demand, radio, outdoor advertising and social media. A second phase of the campaign in October will aim to encourage people with long-term health conditions to come forward for flu vaccination.

Each year, some 600,000 women give birth in England. New data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reveals hundreds of thousands of pregnant women missed vital vaccines last winter with:

just over a third (35%) vaccinated against flu
around half receiving a vaccination for RSV, since the programme was launched a year ago
a third missing their whooping cough vaccination (66% uptake, though this rose to 71% in early 2025)

Whooping Cough

With 12 infant deaths from whooping cough since the beginning of 2024 and hundreds of babies hospitalised from vaccine-preventable illnesses, it is vital that pregnant women receive their vaccine at the right time – ideally between 20 and 32 weeks.

If you are pregnant and approaching 20 weeks and haven’t been offered the whooping cough vaccine, please speak to your GP or midwife today to find out how you can get your vaccine.

RSV – Respiratory syncytial virus

RSV infects around 90% of children in their first two years of life and can cause a lung infection called bronchiolitis. The RSV season usually starts in October and, while there is no risk-free birth month, babies born in late summer or the autumn are most likely to be admitted to hospital. Hundreds of babies attend Emergency Departments each day for bronchiolitis through most of November and December.

That is why it is so important that pregnant women between 20 and 32 weeks ensure they are vaccinated as soon as possible – please speak to your GP or midwife today to find out how you can get your vaccine.

Flu

Since the start of September, pregnant women and millions of children have been able to get their flu vaccinations. As of 1 October, adults over 65, those at clinical risk and other eligible groups will also be able to get their flu jabs, with over-75s and those who are immunosuppressed able to get their COVID vaccine.

Those eligible should speak to their GP or practice nurse, or alternatively their local pharmacist, to book a vaccination appointment. For pregnant women, the vaccine may also be available through maternity services.

The Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Cymru (NIPEC)

The Welsh Government has recently published Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Cymru (NIPEC) Guidelines and Standards for Wales. The Guidelines aim to standardise practice and improve the quality of the NIPEC examination, contributing to the health and wellbeing of babies and infants through early detection of congenital abnormalities of the eyes, hips, heart and (in males) testes. The Guidelines have been developed in collaboration with experts from across Wales based on research evidence and best practice. The guidelines will be reviewed periodically and updated in accordance with any new or emerging evidence.

The newborn and infant physical examination is offered to all babies in Wales. The main aims of the examination are to:

Identify and refer all children born with congenital abnormalities of the eyes, heart, hips and (in males) testes, where these are detectable, within 72 hours of birth.
To further identify those abnormalities that may become detectable by 6 weeks of age, at the physical infant examination.
Reduce morbidity and mortality.

The NIPEC examination must be completed by a trained practitioner who is competent to undertake all elements of the newborn screening examination and who has undergone relevant training. This can be a midwife, nurse, health visitor, doctor, or physician associate.

Health Education and Improvement Wales has developed resources to support NIPEC practitioners with their continuing professional development (CPD) with an aim of standardising the approach across Wales, they can be found here The Newborn and Infant Physical Examination Cymru (NIPEC) – HEIW (nhs.wales).