Maternal and neonatal immunisation service to include Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccinations for pregnant women - "20240901 Dorset Perinatal Imms Team"

NHS England (South West), have made an urgent award under the Provider Selection Regime, maternal and neonatal immunisation services within Dorset.

An urgent award has been made due to unforeseen circumstance not attributable to the relevant authority. Delaying an award in order to conduct a full application of the Regime would pose a risk to patients.

These services include Pertussis, Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations for pregnant women, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccinations for newborn infants, and the roll out of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination programme for pregnant woman over 28 weeks.

Since 2023, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has been actively reviewing the latest evidence on immunisation products which can protect both infants and older adults against RSV infection and disease. In summer 2024, the national RSV vaccination programme was announced.

NHS England were made aware of the specific arrangements for RSV immunisation by the Department of Health in June, with contracts needing to start on 1st September 2024.

The specific arrangements meant in the Dorset system there would need to be an alternative solution to in-house provision by the acute trusts of this level of vaccines for pregnant women at this stage of pregnancy.

The RSV vaccine will be offered throughout the year between 1st September 2024 to 30th August 2025.

The total contract value is £250,000.