RSV Vaccine (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)
All adults turning 75 years old on or after 1 September 2024 will be offered a single dose of the RSV vaccine on or after their 75th birthday.
In line with JCVI guidance, individuals will remain eligible until the day before their 80th birthday, with the exception of people who turn 80 in the first year who have until 31 August 2025 to get vaccinated.
Age 75: Born after 1st September 1949 who have had their 75th birthday but are not yet 80.
Age 75-79 catch up cohort: patients born before 01.09.2024, are 75 but have not had their 80th birthday.
Age 80: patients who are 79 in August 24 who may turn 80 before being offered the vaccine = Born between 02.09.1944 and 31.08.45 are eligible up until 31st August 2025.
Pregnant Women
All women who are at least 28 weeks pregnant on 1 September 2024, should be offered a single dose of the RSV vaccine. After that, pregnant women will become eligible as they reach 28 weeks gestation and remain eligible up to birth.
Appointments – we will contact all eligible patients shortly via text or landline if you do not have a mobile number on your records
RSV is an infectious disease of the airways and lungs. RSV infection often causes symptoms similar to a cold, including:
- cough
- sore throat
- sneezing
- a runny or blocked nose
It can also make you become wheezy or short of breath and lead to pneumonia and other life-threatening conditions. There is no specific treatment, and most infections will get better by themselves. Every year thousands of older adults need hospital care for RSV, and some of them will die. RSV can be more severe in people with medical conditions such as heart or lung disease or a weakened immune system.
RSV infection is common in young children but is most serious for small babies and for older people.
How RSV is spread
RSV infections can occur all year round, but cases peak every winter.
RSV can spread through coughs and sneezes. You can help to prevent the spread of the virus by covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze (ideally with a tissue, or else into the bend of your elbow), and you can wash your hands frequently to reduce the risk of picking up the virus. Even with these measures it can be difficult to avoid RSV infection.
The best way to protect yourself is to have the vaccine.
How the RSV vaccine works
Almost all older adults will have had several RSV infections during their life. A single dose of vaccine will help to boost protection as you reach an age group at highest risk of serious RSV infection. Unlike the flu vaccine you do not need to have the RSV vaccine every year.
Flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
RSV is not normally given at the same appointment as your COVID-19 or flu vaccines.
In certain clinical circumstances, your doctor or nurse can safely offer them at the same time.
Those who should not have the RSV vaccine.
Almost everybody can have the vaccine but tell the doctor or nurse if you have ever had a serious allergy to a vaccine, or any of the ingredients.
If you have a minor illness such as a cold you can receive the vaccine, but if you are very unwell or have a fever, the doctor or nurse may advise you to wait until you are better.
The protection offered by the RSV vaccine
The vaccine has been shown to reduce the chance of you suffering from RSV disease. As with all medicines, no vaccine is completely effective, and some people may still get RSV despite having a vaccination. If you do get RSV, it should be less severe.
How long the RSV vaccine will protect you for
In the clinical studies, RSV vaccine provided good protection for at least 2 years and is expected to last longer.