How to protect yourself by having the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine

Please click here to see NHS patient information leaflet for more information

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.

How do you catch RSV?

RSV infections can occur all year round but cases peak every winter. RSV can spread through coughs and sneezes. You can help to prevent the spread of the virus by covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze (ideally with a tissue, or else into the bend of your elbow), and you can wash your hands frequently to reduce the risk of picking up the virus. Even with these measures it can be difficult to avoid RSV infection. The best way to protect yourself
is to have the vaccine.

Who should have the new 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

Do I need to have the vaccine every year?

No, a single dose is expected to give you good protection for a few year. In the clinical studies, RSV vaccine provided good protection for at least 2 years, and is expected to last longer.

Can I have the RSV vaccine at the same time as my COVID-19 or flu vaccine?

No, RSV isn’t normally arranged to be given at the same appointment as your COVID-19 or flu vaccines.

What should I do now?

We will be inviting all eligible patients to book an appointment with a nurse shortly.