From 1 September 2026, the NHS in England will expand its Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination programme to include adults aged 65 to 74 in specific clinical at-risk groups. This update follows the JCVI’s advice and marks a significant extension to the existing vaccination criteria.
Previously, since 2024, the RSV vaccine has been routinely offered to all adults as they reach 75 years of age, with an initial catch-up campaign for those aged 75 to 79 on 1 September 2024. The programme was further broadened on 1 April 2026 to include all adults aged 80 and over, as well as residents in care homes for older adults who had not yet received the vaccine.
The new eligibility criteria specifically target those aged 65 to 74 with chronic respiratory disease or immunosuppression due to disease or treatment. These groups have been identified as having an increased risk of severe illness from RSV.
RSV is a common virus that causes respiratory infections such as coughs and colds. While most people experience mild symptoms, it can lead to more serious conditions like pneumonia or bronchiolitis, especially in older adults and infants. These complications can result in severe breathing difficulties, hospitalisation, and in some cases, may be life-threatening.
The vaccine is already available free of charge on the NHS for individuals aged 75 and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and pregnant women from 28 weeks gestation onward. The vaccine is recommended during every pregnancy to help protect newborns.
Caroline Temmink, Director of Vaccination at NHS England, and Dr Mary Ramsay CBE, Director of Public Health Programmes at the UK Health Security Agency, expressed gratitude in a joint letter to NHS bodies: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in commissioning and operationally delivering the national NHS vaccination programme.”
This expansion reflects ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable populations from respiratory infections and to reduce hospital admissions related to RSV.