Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) programme: information for healthcare professionals
This guidance is for health practitioners implementing the vaccination programme to protect pregnant women and older adults from RSV.
Documents
Details
The aim of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme is to reduce the incidence and severity of RSV disease, and hospitalisation as a result of RSV disease in infants and eligible older adults.
All adults turning 75 years of age on or after 1 September 2024 (born on or after 1 September 1949) should be offered RSV vaccination onon, or shortly afterafter, their 75th birthday. From April 2026, the RSV vaccination programme willwas be expanded to include adults living in an older adult care home and individuals aged 80 years and older. From 1 September 2026 the programme is being expanded to include individuals aged 65 to 74 years who are immunosuppressed or have chronic respiratory disease.
All pregnant women should be offered the RSV vaccination from week 28 of their pregnancy.
These are year-round, ongoing programmes.
Training on the guidance is available:
Updates to this page
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Added 'RSV vaccination of older adults: information for healthcare practitioners' for extension to risk groups from September. Added the link to the revised RSV maternal guidance and training slide set which includes updates to eligibility and information on expiry dates for vaccines.
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The maternal guidance has been updated to include Clesrovimab to the section on monoclonal antibody immunisation.
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Updated older adults guidance and slideset in line with the expansion of the programme to those 80+
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Wording about the administration of influenza vaccine co-administration for pregnant women has been clarified.
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Older adults guidance and slide set updated to clarify guidance on individuals who turn 80 after 1 September 2025.
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Older adults guidance and slide set updated to version 3.5 with interim guidance for the 80+ age group expansion.
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Older Adults guidance, version 03.00, updated with additional information on co-administration of vaccines and on Guillain-Barré syndrome . Maternal guidance, version 03.00, updated with guidance on monoclonal antibody immunisation for high-risk infants.
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Addition of reference to Sejvar et al 2011 in Maternal guidance.
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Both the guidance for the Maternal RSV and Older Adults RSV vaccination programmes have been updated to reflect new data on Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) a very rare side effect of the Abrysvo vaccine, updated contraindications and information on vaccination of those under 18 who are pregnant.
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First published.
Update history
2026-08-11 21:11
Added ‘RSV vaccination of older adults: information for healthcare practitioners’ for extension to risk groups from September. Added the link to the revised RSV maternal guidance and training slide set which includes updates to eligibility and information on expiry dates for vaccines.
2026-06-03 17:21
The maternal guidance has been updated to include Clesrovimab to the section on monoclonal antibody immunisation.
2026-03-11 14:41
Updated older adults guidance and slideset in line with the expansion of the programme to those 80+
2025-10-21 13:31
Wording about the administration of influenza vaccine co-administration for pregnant women has been clarified.
2025-09-03 14:27
Older adults guidance and slide set updated to clarify guidance on individuals who turn 80 after 1 September 2025.
2025-08-27 11:25
Older adults guidance and slide set updated to version 3.5 with interim guidance for the 80+ age group expansion.
2025-07-21 16:53
Older Adults guidance, version 03.00, updated with additional information on co-administration of vaccines and on Guillain-Barré syndrome. Maternal guidance, version 03.00, updated with guidance on monoclonal antibody immunisation for high-risk infants.
2025-02-25 11:55
Addition of reference to Sejvar et al 2011 in Maternal guidance.
2025-02-18 11:22
Both the guidance for the Maternal RSV and Older Adults RSV vaccination programmes have been updated to reflect new data on Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) a very rare side effect of the Abrysvo vaccine, updated contraindications and information on vaccination of those under 18 who are pregnant.
2024-07-12 13:50
First published.