by Louise Doyle

MORE than 630 infants in Donegal have been diagnosed with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

Figures provided to this newspaper by the HSE show 637 infants were diagnosed with the virus between 2024 in its entirety, to August 28, 2025.

We also asked how many infants in Donegal were immunised against RSV in 2024 and this year to date. However, a HSE spokesperson said that this data was not available.

“As this is a pathfinder programme, only national uptake data is reported.”

In June 2024, the Minister for Health announced the RSV Immunisation Pathfinder Programme for the 2024-2025 season. Through this programme, parents of babies born from September 2024 to February 2025 are encouraged to have their newborns immunised with nirsevimab before leaving the maternity unit.

The spokesperson added: “The RSV immunisation programme was a path finder programme commenced for the first time last September, and was available to eligible babies born in maternity hospitals between September 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025.

“Last winter’s very successful RSV immunisation programme was delivered to new born babies in maternity settings and higher risk babies in the community. The programme significantly reduced infections, serious illness and hospitalisations.”

The figures come amid a renewed appeal for parents of newborns to avail of the RSV vaccine. As of Monday of this week, RSV vaccines are now being offered to all babies.

The HSE is also extending the rollout to all babies born from March 1 to August 31 of this year.

The call comes amid a current low uptake rate in north Donegal.

RSV is a common respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs. It is the main cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in very young children.

Parents of children born between March 1 and August 31 are being urged to avail of the RSV immunisation.

The HSE has noted that there was a significant decrease in the impact of RSV from when the immunisation programme began in 2024 compared to 2023, which included 64 per cent reduction in the total number of cases and 76 per cent decrease in babies requiring hospitalisation.

The programme has also seen a 65 per cent reduction in babies needing intensive care due to complications of RSV.