Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine (RSV)
From 1 September 2024, those who turn 75 and those age 75 to 79 will be eligible for a free vaccine to protect them from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
RSV is an infectious disease of the airways and lungs. RSV infection often causes symptoms similar to a cold but can also make you become wheezy or short of breath and lead to pneumonia and other life-threatening conditions.
Every year thousands of older adults need hospital care for RSV which can be more severe in people with medical conditions such as heart or lung disease or a weakened immune system.
NHS England eligibility for this one-time RSV vaccination
Everyone turning 75 years old on or after the 1 September 2024 will be offered a one-time RSV vaccine, up until the day before their 76th birthday. As this is a new vaccine programme, the vaccine will also be offered to those who are aged 76 to 79 years on 1 September 2024 (this eligibility remains until the end of August 2025).
If you are not yet 75 we will invite you for vaccination once you turn 75 years old.
Booking an RSV vaccination
We will send a SMS text message to eligible patients with an appointment booking link. For those who don’t have a mobile phone, we will send a letter. Guidance recommends leaving a week between the RSV vaccine and Covid/flu vaccines. Having your RSV vaccination in September means you are ready to have your Covid/flu vaccination in early October.
For more information about the vaccine, side effects and the programme please visitvisit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-vaccination-for-older-adults/your-guide-to-the-rsv-vaccine-for-older-adults