Overview
- NHS England announced on Wednesday that from 1 September adults aged 65–74 with chronic respiratory conditions or weakened immune systems will be eligible for a free RSV jab.
- Eligible people can get the single-dose vaccine at GP practices and, in some areas, at participating high-street pharmacies to make access easier.
- The government accepted advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to widen eligibility after JCVI identified these groups as at higher risk of hospitalisation from RSV.
- Regulators have approved the vaccine (reported as Abrysvo) and officials say common side effects are mild while serious reactions are rare; NHS figures show earlier rollouts delivered about 519,571 doses to people aged 80+ and protected around 300,000 pregnant women and babies.
- Health leaders say the move should help protect vulnerable people, lower winter admissions and ease pressure on the NHS, with officials urging those eligible to come forward for the jab.