RSV Vaccine

• Wednesday 14th August 2024

What is RSV?

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is an infectious disease of the airways and lungs. RSV infection often causes symptoms similar to a cold, including cough, sore throat, sneezing and 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.

Please download the leaflet below for more information

Who should have the RSV vaccination?

Everyone turning 75 years old on or after the 1 September 2024 will be offered a single dose of RSV vaccine. This is because older adults are more at risk of serious complications from RSV. You can still get the vaccine up to the day before you turn 80. For the first year of the programme, the vaccine will also be offered to those who are already aged 75 to 79 years on 1 September 2024 as part of a catch up programme.

How can I get vaccinated?

The Surgery will begin inviting eligible patients in September 2024 and will continue vaccinating throughout 2024 & 2025. This vaccine cannot be given at the same time as the flu or covid vaccine, so our capacity will reduce in October & November. If you would like this vaccine, please either wait for an invitation with a booking link to book your appointment, or call us.