Are you now eligible for the RSV vaccine? What the new NHS rules mean for you

What is RSV, and why does it matter to you?

RSV stands for respiratory syncytial virus. It’s a common virus that infects the lungs and airways, and for most people it causes nothing worse than a cold. But in older adults, and in anyone with an existing lung condition or a weakened immune system, RSV can trigger pneumonia, bronchitis, or a serious flare-up of a condition you already live with — sometimes serious enough to need hospital treatment. It circulates most heavily over winter, but the risk isn’t limited to the colder months.

Who is newly eligible for the RSV vaccine from September 2026?

From 1 September 2026, the NHS is extending eligibility to adults aged 65 to 74 who fall into one of two groups:

• Those with a chronic respiratory disease, such as poorly controlled asthma, chronic bronchitis, or cystic fibrosis
• Those with immunosuppression caused by an illness or its treatment — for example, a blood cancer diagnosis or ongoing chemotherapy

It’s important to be clear about what this doesn’t cover: simply being 65 to 74 doesn’t make you eligible on its own. You need to have one of the specific conditions above as well. If you’re not sure whether a condition you live with qualifies, your GP practice will be able to tell you.

Who was already eligible before this change?

This expansion builds on a programme that already covers a large number of people. Before this change, the RSV vaccine was already available free on the NHS to:

• Everyone aged 75 and over
• All residents in care homes for older adults, regardless of age
• Pregnant women, to help protect newborn babies in their first months

If you’re already 75 or older, or living in a care home, none of this changes anything for you — you should already have been offered the vaccine, and you don’t need to do anything differently in September. If you had the vaccine at 65 to 74 under the new rules, you won’t be asked to have a second dose when you later turn 75; one dose is designed to last.

Why has the NHS expanded eligibility to this group?

The change follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which identified that people aged 65 to 74 with certain lung conditions or weakened immunity face a similar risk from RSV to those already covered by the programme. NHS England says the aim is to reach people before they become seriously unwell, rather than treating severe infections after the fact. As Caroline Temmink, NHS England’s Director of Vaccination, put it: “RSV can make people seriously ill, which is why protection for vulnerable groups matters.”

Public Health Minister Sharon Hodgson framed it in similar terms, saying the expansion “protects higher-risk individuals before serious illness occurs.” The UK Health Security Agency’s Dr Conall Watson added that “the vaccine provides excellent protection against severe lung infection” — reflecting how the existing rollout to over-75s and pregnant women has performed since it began in 2024.

How do you get the RSV vaccine if you’re eligible?

From 1 September 2026, you’ll be able to get the vaccine through your GP practice or a participating high street pharmacy. GP practices are expected to contact everyone on their list who qualifies, but if you have a relevant condition and haven’t heard anything by mid-September, it’s worth contacting your surgery yourself rather than waiting for a letter that may be delayed. The vaccine used, Abrysvo, is given as a single injection and can be had at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine if you’re also due one. It isn’t routinely given alongside the annual flu jab, so don’t be surprised if your practice books it as a separate appointment.

What if you don’t have one of the listed conditions?

If you’re between 65 and 74 and don’t have a chronic respiratory condition or immunosuppression, you won’t be called for the RSV vaccine yet — the general 65-to-74 population isn’t included in this expansion. That’s not a reason to worry; it simply reflects where the current evidence shows the greatest benefit. You’ll become eligible automatically once you turn 75, alongside everyone else in that age group. In the meantime, the usual advice on avoiding respiratory infections — washing your hands regularly, keeping rooms ventilated, and staying away from other people when you have cold or flu-like symptoms — still applies to everyone.