From the beginning of September, the NHS will be rolling out a new vaccination for respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV. This marks a big step forward in protecting older people aged 75 to 79 and newborn babies, not only in the run up to winter but all year round.

RSV is an incredibly common but potentially very serious infection – as many as 9 in 10 children will have had it by the time they’re two, and most of us will have it several times in our life. Symptoms include a cough, sore throat, sneezing and a runny or blocked nose.

Although RSV usually gets better by itself, it can be dangerous for young babies and can lead to bronchiolitis which makes it hard for babies to breathe. It can also be serious for older people, particularly those with heart or lung conditions or a weakened immune system, as it can lead to serious illnesses such as pneumonia. Thousands of babies and older people will end up in hospital due to RSV every year, typically in winter when cases are at their highest.

NHS staff and our partners have been working tirelessly to make sure the RSV vaccine can be rolled out at speed from September. This will help us to protect people and has the potential to save thousands of lives.

From 1 September, all adults turning 75 will be invited to get their RSV vaccine by their GP practice, and they will remain eligible until the day before their 80th birthday. They may be invited by their practice via letter, text or email.

A one-off catch-up campaign for those already aged 75-79 years old on 1 September 2024 should be undertaken at the earliest opportunity with the aim of completing the majority by 31 August 2025. In line with Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation guidance, individuals will remain eligible until the day before their 80th birthday, with the exception of people who turn 80 in the first year who have until 31 August 2025 to get vaccinated. The RSV vaccine may be offered at the same time as the shingles or pneumococcal vaccine and it is safe to have these vaccines together and reduces the number of appointments needed to get protected against these diseases. In older adults, the RSV vaccine isn’t normally arranged to be given at the same appointment as your covid-19 or flu vaccines but in certain clinical circumstances, a doctor or nurse can safely offer them at the same time.

Women who are 28 weeks pregnant or more will be able to get a vaccine too, giving vital protection to their baby in the first few months of life. Maternity teams and health professionals who come into contact with women during this time will discuss with them how they can access the vaccines that they need, including the RSV and whooping cough vaccines. Women can speak to their maternity service or GP surgery to book a vaccination appointment. If they have not had the whooping cough or flu vaccines by the time they attend their RSV vaccination appointment, they should have these vaccines at the same time.

Unlike flu and covid-19, the RSV vaccine is available all year round, not just seasonally. Older people need just one dose for protection that will last multiple years, while women should get the vaccine during every pregnancy to protect each baby.

It’s incredibly important we prioritise delivery of this vaccine from September and do all that we can to encourage those eligible to take up this lifesaving offer. To offer the best protection, we are asking systems and providers to vaccinate as many people as possible during September and October 2024 prior to the expected RSV season.

The new vaccine will be a game changer in helping prevent serious infant illness: a recent analysis estimated that the programme launching in England this autumn could typically prevent 5,000 hospitalisations and 15,000 emergency department attendances for infants.

Analysis suggests that, with uptake of 60%, the maternal programme could result in 70,000 fewer RSV illnesses in infants under 12 months, 20,000 fewer GP consultations and avoid more than 200 infants being admitted to intensive care units.

Recent analysis also suggests that the first season of the older adult’s catch-up programme could prevent around 2,500 hospital admissions, 15,000 GP visits and 60,000 RSV illnesses in adults in this age group.

The argument for prioritising the RSV vaccine is therefore pretty clear in my mind.

Rolling out a new vaccination takes a huge amount of work and we are determined to make getting this vaccine as convenient as possible. As we approach September, colleagues should continue to ensure everything will be ready to get jabs in arms as soon as we can, including using our variety of resources to promote the vaccine and support conversations with patients. Please share these far and wide to ensure we hit the ground running and encourage eligible people to get their vaccine as soon as possible to maximise immunity over the colder months.

A big thank you to everyone throughout the system who has been involved in making this happen – there’s no doubt that preparing for a September launch of the RSV vaccine will help to save lives this winter. Please continue to encourage those eligible to come forward when invited to do so.