Additional three million people now eligible for RSV vaccine in England

An additional three million people in England are now eligible for the NHS respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine following an expansion of the programme to include all adults aged 80 and over and people living in a care home for older adults.

Those newly eligible have been urged to book their vaccination with their GP practice or to speak with a member of staff in their care home.

Before Wednesday (1 April 2026), the vaccine was only offered to adults turning 75 as well as those aged 75 to 79 years when the programme began in September 2024.

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Women are also offered the vaccine from 28 weeks of pregnancy to protect their babies.

These groups remain eligible if they have not had the vaccine, as well as those newly eligible – those aged 80 and over and those living in a care home for older adults.

The programme has been expanded across the UK, with campaigns live from April in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. A date has not yet been confirmed for Scotland.

Speaking on the Nursing in Practice podcast in February, Dr Julie Yates, deputy director for immunisation programmes at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said the expansion should reduce hospital admissions and better protect vulnerable people.

RSV is a common virus that infects the lungs and can be severe for older adults, causing pneumonia, bronchitis and flare-ups of existing lung disease and other long-term conditions.

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According to NHS England, RSV causes around 9,000 hospitalisations in those aged over 75 in the UK each year.

A new study by Public Health Wales has shown the RSV vaccine lowers the risk of hospitalisation from the virus by 82%.

An RSV vaccination can be booked via a GP practice, by speaking to staff in care homes and in some community pharmacies in parts of England.

Michelle Kane, NHS director of vaccination and screening delivery, said: ‘RSV is not just a winter illness; it can occur all year round and can make older people seriously ill, so it is vital everyone eligible gets vaccinated.

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‘The vaccine has been proven to drastically reduce the chance of those aged 75 and over from ending up in hospital with an RSV infection, so if you’re seeing loved ones or family members who are eligible for a vaccine over the Easter break, please do remind them to come forward if invited.

‘If you are newly eligible or are still yet to come forward, don’t delay and book your free NHS vaccination in with your GP or speak to a member of staff in your care home.’