RSV vaccination should extend to over-80s, JCVI advises

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme in older adults should be expanded to include those over the age of 80 years, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has recommended.

It follows analysis that the introduction of RSV vaccination in 75-to-79-year-olds last September led to a significant reduction in hospital admissions among that age group.

The JCVI had suggested an extension to the programme would be considered once there was more certainty on the effectiveness of the RSV jab among those over 80 years old and the ‘real-world’ impact of the vaccine.

This winter saw the start of a routine RSV vaccination for those turning 75 with a one-off catch-up campaign for 75-79-year-olds.

Now more evidence is available, the catch up campaign should extend to those over the age of 80 years, the JCVI concluded and all resident in care homes.

The vaccine should be given concurrently with Covid-19 booster jabs, the committee advised.

Their decision was made after reviewing real-world impact of the vaccination programme in 75-to 79-year-olds in the UK as well as evidence of the effectiveness of RSV vaccination in those aged over 80.

The committee also looked at data on the frequency and severity of RSV outbreaks in care homes in England.

And it considered a cost-effectiveness assessment by the Department of Health and Social Care and the UK Health Security Agency suggesting a programme for those aged 80 years and older would potentially be even more cost-effective than vaccinating those aged 75 to 79, because of the impact and burden of RSV disease with increasing age.

The decision also took into account recent vaccine safety day on the attributable risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome in the older adult programme.

An analysis published in March showed 30% fewer hospital admissions in 75 to 79-year-olds would have occurred without RSV vaccination.

A similar study in Scotland which showed a 62% reduction in RSV-related hospitalisations among older people.

The UK was the first country in the world to have a national RSV immunisation programme using the same vaccine to protect newborns and older people.

‘Since the introduction of the programme, over 1.3 million doses have been administered with emerging evidence showing a significant impact on the incidence of RSV hospitalisations,’ the JCVI said.