Alice Hodges, an 82-year-old from Somerset, experienced what seemed to be a mild cold that quickly worsened into a critical health crisis. In December 2024, after developing cold-like symptoms, Alice was diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and spent two harrowing weeks in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton.
Initially, Alice felt she just had a runny nose and expected to recover on her own. Her daughter, Sandra Aplin, recalls how it rapidly deteriorated: “Mum said she felt awful with a streaming nose, but we thought it would pass. Then, just a few days later, she called me early in the morning, saying she could barely breathe. It was so severe that we couldn’t move her.”
At the hospital, doctors diagnosed Alice with RSV, a condition Sandra admits was unfamiliar to them. “When the nurse told me, I had to look it up,” she said.
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Alice’s condition worsened, and she struggled to breathe despite oxygen support. “We didn’t think she was going to make it. Seeing mum try to remove her breathing mask was heart-breaking—she’s always been the strong one caring for others,” said Sandra.
Though Alice survived, the virus caused lasting damage to her heart. She now experiences frequent fatigue, reduced stamina, and requires a pacemaker.
RSV is common and usually causes mild cold symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, or a cough. However, it can pose severe risks for babies, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems, sometimes leading to serious chest infections such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
Recognizing these dangers, as of April 1, 2025, the NHS expanded eligibility for the RSV vaccine to include all individuals aged 75 and older, without any upper age limit.
Dr. Rob Weaver, deputy chief medical officer at NHS Somerset, emphasized the importance of vaccination: “Alice’s experience shows how quickly RSV can become severe, even in seniors who appear healthy and active. What starts as a mild cold can escalate into serious complications. Expanding the vaccine programme to everyone aged 75 and over helps protect those most at risk.”
He advises all eligible seniors to receive the vaccine promptly. “A small jab now could keep you or your loved ones out of hospital later.”
Sandra appreciates the new vaccine programme, hoping no one else faces what her mother endured: “It’s fantastic news. I truly wouldn’t want anyone to go through what mum did.”