Key Summary
- UKHSA expanded the RSV vaccination to adults aged 65 to 74 years in certain clinical at risk groups.
- The change will be operational from 1 September 2026.
- Community pharmacies commissioned for RSV programme will be paid £9.58 per vaccine.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is expanding the NHS Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination programme to adults aged 65 to 74 years belonging to certain risk groups.
This makes the vaccination available to thousands of people living with chronic asthma, bronchitis or cystic fibrosis or who have weak immune systems caused by other conditions (such as diabetes or blood cancer) or by medical treatments such as chemotherapy.
Those eligible can get the vaccination administered from local GP practice or, in some parts of the country, at their local high street pharmacy from 1 September.
Since September 2024, RSV vaccination has been routinely available to older adults as they turn 75 years of age, with an initial catch up also offered to adults who were aged 75 to 79 years on 1 September 2024.
The programme was expanded on 1 April 2026 to also include all adults aged 80 years and over and all residents in care homes for older adults, who had not already received a dose through the initial programme.
The risk groups are considered as advised by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
The expanded cohort will be added to the routine adult immunisation schedule, which all GPs must offer to their eligible registered patients. The vaccine will carry an item of service (IoS) fee of £10.06.
For those community pharmacies that have been commissioned to support the older adults RSV programme, an updated service specification will be issued ahead of 1 September, and commissioned community pharmacies will be invited by regions to enter a contract variation.
Commissioned community pharmacies will continue to receive an IoS fee of £9.58.
Caroline Temmink, Director of Vaccination at NHS England, said: “If you are aged 75 or over, or live in a care home for older adults and are yet to get vaccinated, now is the time to come forward. Although RSV spreads most in winter, this virus poses a risk all year round, so if you’ve been offered the jab, please come forward to your GP or local pharmacy.”
Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson stressed that RSV can cause serious illness for older adults and those with underlying health conditions.
In April, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had approved Enflonsia (clesrovimab-cfor) injection, to safeguard newborn infants from RSV.
