From September 1, the NHS will offer a free vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to millions more older adults, expanding eligibility to those aged 65 to 74 with chronic respiratory conditions or weakened immune systems. The move is expected to protect hundreds of thousands of additional patients from a virus that can prove deadly in the frail and elderly.
Expanded Eligibility
Until now, the free vaccine has been reserved for those aged 75 and over, pregnant women at least 28 weeks along, and care home residents. Under the new rules, adults aged 65 to 74 with underlying health problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or compromised immune systems will qualify years earlier than under the current criteria. Health officials warn that RSV, once dismissed as a mere cause of coughs and colds, can trigger pneumonia and bronchiolitis, leading to life-threatening complications and hospitalisation.
How to Get the Jab
Eligible 65 to 74-year-olds can contact their GP surgery from September to arrange vaccination. Surgeries may also proactively reach out via letter, text, phone or email, but patients are urged not to wait for an invitation. For over-75s and pregnant women, the rules remain unchanged. Expectant mothers should be offered the jab around their 28-week antenatal appointment, though it can be given right up until labour if missed. Care home residents can arrange vaccination through staff or their GP. Selected pharmacies in parts of Essex, Suffolk, Lancashire, Merseyside, Leicestershire, the West Midlands and London will also offer the jab.
One Dose, Years of Protection
Unlike the annual flu and Covid jabs, the RSV vaccine is administered year-round. Older adults require a single dose expected to provide protection for several years, while pregnant women are advised to have the vaccine afresh with every pregnancy. The NHS confirms the jab can typically be given alongside other vaccines, including Covid, shingles and pneumococcal vaccines, though it is not usually given at the same time as the flu jab in older adults unless a clinician deems it necessary.
Safety Record
The vaccine, known as Abrysvo, has been approved by the UK's medicines regulator, the MHRA, after meeting safety and effectiveness standards. Common side effects are mild and include sore arm, headache or aching body. Serious allergic reactions are very rare, and in extremely rare cases older adults have developed Guillain-Barré syndrome, a nerve condition causing tingling, numbness and muscle weakness. Health officials insist the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks of a serious RSV infection. Patients with a high temperature should delay their appointment until recovered, and anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine or its ingredients should not receive it.
