Question

At the end of last year I caught a very nasty respiratory infection called RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and nearly ended up in hospital. This also caused a significant relapse of my ME from which I am only slowly recovering.

I know from newspaper reports that a lot of people were hit by this virus last year and that there is now an RSV vaccine. Is this vaccine something that people with ME should consider having? And is there any feedback from people who have had this vaccine?

Answer

RSV is an infection that commonly causes coughs and colds. So the main symptoms are:

• Runny or blocked nose and sneezing
• Cough Fatigue
• High temperature – which may cause the chest and back to feel very hot

Most people get better over a week or two and there is no specific treatment apart from painkillers (ibuprofen or paracetamol) and symptom relief (e.g. saline drops for a blocked nose).

As you say, there was a lot of RSV around at the end of last year and some of those who were affected especially babies and young children, people with weakened immune systems, and the elderly – were quite seriously ill and had to be admitted to hospital, sometimes with RSV pneumonia.

There is now a vaccine that appears to provide a high level of protection from RSV infection. At the moment the vaccine is only being offered to people who are 75 to 79 years of age. But I suspect that this age limit may well be lowered.

As far as side-effects are concerned, common ones include swelling at the vaccination site, headache and general body aching. Serious side-effects are unusual but can include a severe allergic reaction and a neurological disease called Guillain Barre Syndrome.

Unfortunately, we currently have no feedback from anyone with ME/CFS who has been given this vaccine so far.

In conclusion, RSV is a potentially serious infection that people with ME/CFS need to avoid if at all possible. If you are 75 or older, vaccination is certainly worth considering. However, as with any vaccine, this is best deferred if you are having an exacerbation of your ME/CFS or have flu-like symptoms.

More NHS information on RSV vaccine

• Please let us know if you have had an RSV vaccine and whether it caused any problems with your ME/CFS.