NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have confirmed a major vaccine rollout for older adults from today, September 1. The NHS Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination programme is being expanded this year, to include adults aged 65 to 74 years in certain clinical at risk groups.

The RSV vaccine has been routinely available to older adults as they turn 75 since September 2024 and was later extended to include all adults aged 80 and over, as well as all residents in care homes in April 2026. But a further expansion announced earlier this year will see the eligibility criteria extended to include adults aged 65 to 74 years following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

NHS England and the UKHSA confirmed the RSV vaccine expansion in July, stating that GPs will offer the jab to those who are eligible from Tuesday, September 1.

RSV is a common cause of coughs and colds and while it usually gets better by itself, it can cause severe illness for babies and older adults over the age of 75.

Those who are infected with RSV typically experience cold-like symptoms including a runny or blocked nose, a cough, sneezing, tiredness and a high temperature, but it can also lead to more serious infections like pneumonia or bronchiolitis.

The RSV vaccination is available on the NHS for free to eligible groups, which can help reduce the risk of becoming seriously ill from the infection. You can currently get the jab if:

you’re 28 weeks pregnant or moreyou’re aged 75 or overyou live in a care home for older adults

But from September 1, 2026, adults aged 65 to 74 and in either of the following clinical at risk groups will become eligible to get the RSV vaccine:

1. Chronic respiratory disease including those with:

poorly controlled asthmachronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysemabronchiectasiscystic fibrosisinterstitial lung fibrosispneumoconiosisbronchopulmonary dysplasia

2. Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment.

Confirming the expansion in a letter on July 1, Caroline Temmink, director of vaccination at NHS England, and Dr Mary Ramsay CBE, director of public health programmes (including immunisation) at the UKHSA, said: “From 1 September 2026, the eligibility criteria will be expanded further to include adults aged 65 to 74 years in certain clinical at risk groups as advised by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).” This includes people with:

chronic respiratory diseaseimmunosuppression due to disease or treatment

The pair set out key points about the programme, including: