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.
The best way to protect yourself is to have the vaccine. A single dose of vaccine will help to boost protection as you reach an age group at highest risk of serious RSV infection. A single dose is expected to give you good protection for a few years.
Everyone turning 75 years old on or after the 1 September 2024 will be offered a single dose of RSV vaccine. 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.
Almost everybody can have the vaccine but tell the doctor or nurse if you have ever had a serious allergy to a vaccine, or any of the ingredients.
Please see the below leaflets for further information.