Introduction of new NHS vaccination programmes against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

ACTION TO TAKE: Introducing a RSV vaccination programme for those aged 75 and over and pregnant people

Last year the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that a national RSV vaccination programme should be introduced for infants and older adults to help reduce the number of hospitalisations caused by the disease. 

The letter published today provides more detailed information about the new vaccination programme that will be introduced from 1 September 2024 for older adults and during pregnancy for infant protection. 

The full letter is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-vaccination-programme.

There are two separate RSV vaccination programmes. 

These include:

· Programme for older adults: All adults aged 75 on or after 1 September will be eligible for the vaccine as well as a catch up campaign for those already aged 75-79. This will be delivered via GP practices 

· Programme for pregnant people to protect infants: All those that are at least 28 week pregnant will be eligible for the vaccine. This will be delivered via maternity services and via GP practices opportunistically or on request.

To help support the delivery of these programmes, there will be two webinars for health professionals that will be involved in the delivery of the RSV vaccine:

· 9July 2024 (14:30 – 15:45): Maternal RSV programme for infant protection: introduction of a new immunisation programme. A webinar for health professionals. Register to join here

· 12 July 2024 (14:30 – 15:45): Adult RSV programme: introduction of a new immunisation programme. A webinar for health professionals. Register to join here