RSV vaccine eligibility to be extended to over-80s and care home residents
Adults aged 80 and over, as well as all residents in care homes for older adults, will become eligible for the NHS respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine from 1 April 2026.
The change follows updated advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and expands the existing programme, which has offered routine vaccination to people turning 75 since September 2024.
The expansion is intended to protect those at increased risk of RSV, and care home residents will be eligible regardless of age. The vaccine used will continue to be Abrysvo, delivered as a single dose. The timing of the expansion is designed to allow co-administration with the spring 2026 Covid-19 vaccine campaign.
The JCVI has said the two vaccines can be safely administered together, although guidance states that RSV vaccination is not seasonal and should be offered year-round.
GP practices will be expected to offer the vaccine to 100% of the eligible population, and arrangements should also be made to vaccinate new care home residents as they become eligible throughout the year, according to the guidance.
Practices are advised to rotate stock to minimise waste and hold no more than two to four weeks’ worth of vaccine supply at any time.
Coverage data will be collected quarterly from participating GP practices via ImmForm, and an updated Patient Group Direction (PGD) template will be made available.
Clinical guidance is available in the RSV chapter of the Green Book, and updated training materials will be published on the RSV vaccination programme webpage.
Further information and implementation details are expected as part of the forthcoming 2026/27 GP contract update.
‘GP providers are expected to deliver a 100% offer to eligible groups, with call and recall delivered at the earliest opportunity. Providers should also ensure they have robust plans in place to identify and address health inequalities for all underserved groups, and it is expected progress will be made on reducing unwarranted variation and improving uptake,’ NHSE vaccination director Caroline Temmink and UKHSA public health director Dr Mary Ramsay said.
The consultation on the 2026/27 GP contract has now concluded, with the Government expected to present the terms to the stakeholders by the end of February.
An UKHSA analysis found RSV vaccination was 82% effective against hospitalisation in older people last winter. It also showed it was ‘highly effective’ in preventing hospitalisation for older people with a chronic respiratory condition and those who are immunosuppressed.
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said: ‘RSV can cause serious illness in older people, which is why this government introduced new year-round vaccination programmes in September 2024. By expanding this life-saving vaccination programme to also include adults aged 80 and over and residents in care homes for older adults, we are taking another important step to protect those most at risk.
‘I am pleased to accept the advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which has carefully reviewed the evidence showing the clear benefits of extending this programme.
‘I would encourage everyone who becomes eligible for the RSV vaccine from April to come forward and get vaccinated as soon as they have been invited to do so by their GP. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and reduce pressure on the NHS during winter months.’
A version of this article was first published by Pulse’s sister title Nursing In Practice
Visit Pulse Reference for details on 140 symptoms, including easily searchable symptoms and categories, offering you a free platform to check symptoms and receive potential diagnoses during consultations.
