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Expansion of eligibility to adults aged 65 to 74 years in certain clinical at-risk groups letter

Published 1 July 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rsv-vaccination-expansion-of-eligibility-to-older-adults-in-certain-clinical-risk-groups/expansion-of-eligibility-to-adults-aged-65-to-74-years-in-certain-clinical-at-risk-groups-letter

1 July 2026

Expansion of the NHS Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccination programme to adults aged 65 to 74 years in certain clinical at risk groups.

This letter provides information regarding the forthcoming expansion of the eligibility criteria for the NHS older adults RSV vaccination programme. This letter is aimed at those responsible for commissioning and operationally delivering the national NHS RSV older adults vaccination programme in England. We encourage you to share this guidance with all those involved in delivering the programme in your area.

Since September 2024, RSV vaccination has been routinely available to older adults as they turn 75 years of age, with an initial catch up also offered to adults who were aged 75 to 79 years on 1 September 2024. The programme was expanded on 1 April 2026 to also include all adults aged 80 years and over and all residents in care homes for older adults, who had not already received a dose through the initial programme.

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):

Key points

Key points about the changes to the programme:

  • the vaccine used in the programme will continue to be Abrysvo® (Pfizer pre-F vaccine) on a one dose schedule. Adults who receive the vaccine from 1 September 2026 because they are aged 65 to 74 years old and in a clinical risk group should not be invited for a further dose of Abrysvo® when they become 75 years old
  • RSV vaccines can be administered at any time and offers of vaccination should continue throughout the year. RSV vaccination should not be routinely scheduled with influenza vaccination but can be co-administered with the COVID-19 vaccine
  • GP providers are expected to deliver a 100% offer to eligible groups, with call and recall delivered at the earliest opportunity
  • where community pharmacies have been commissioned to support the older adults RSV programme, an updated enhanced service specification will be issued ahead of 1 September, and commissioned community pharmacies will be invited by regions to enter a contract variation

Annexe A provides detailed information, guidance and resources for healthcare professionals.

For any operational queries, please contact your NHS England Regional Public Health Commissioning Team. For clinical queries or queries about supporting programme resources, please email immunisation@ukhsa.gov.uk

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in commissioning and operationally delivering the national NHS vaccination programme.

Yours sincerely

Caroline Temmink, Director of Vaccination, NHS England

Dr Mary Ramsay CBE, Director of Public Health Programmes (including immunisation), UK Health Security Agency

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