The director of the Oxford Vaccine Group has claimed that a potentially deadly virus, that suddenly started surging among young children after lockdown, will be treated by preventive vaccines within five years
The Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes mild, cold-like symptoms for most people, can be deadly for infants and the elderly. But never fear because between 20 and 60 vaccines are currently in developement
MSN reports: Typically spiking for six weeks in the winter, RSV puts significant strain on paediatric units. But for the last two years the virus has surged earlier in the year, in the summer months.
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Professor Andrew Pollard, chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said we are still in a “funny post-pandemic phase” when it comes to the spread of the virus.
“Because there wasn’t much virus circulating in 2020, there are a much larger group of children currently around who have never been exposed to it,” he said.
“That means that we’ve had slightly odd RSV outbreaks last year and this year, whilst the unexposed group is sort of being mopped up by the virus.”
In 2020, the group of children not exposed to the virus expanded because of lockdowns, which meant transmission was much easier in 2021 and made the season earlier and longer.
