MORE people across the North West who are most at risk from a virus which causes pneumonia and other serious lung infections will be able to get vital protection on the NHS this winter as eligibility for the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination programme is expanded.
From September, all adults aged 65-74 who are living with a chronic respiratory condition or who have a suppressed immune system will be offered the RSV vaccine, as the NHS expands its life-saving programme to protect those who are most vulnerable.
This includes people living with chronic asthma, bronchitis or cystic fibrosis or who have weakened immune systems caused by other conditions (such as diabetes or blood cancer) or by medical treatments such as chemotherapy.
Eligible people will be able to receive their jab from their local GP practice or participating local high street pharmacy from 1 September, to protect themselves from serious illness and hospitalisation.
The roll-out follows the expansion of eligibility earlier this year to all older adults over the age of 80, published figures show nearly 400,000 people have been given the jab in the North West so far.
Dr Paula Cowan, GP and Regional Medical Director for Primary Care at NHS England in the North West, said: “RSV can make people, especially older adults and those with existing respiratory conditions, seriously ill. I’d encourage all eligible people to come forward for the vaccine, your GP will invite you to attend or you can go to one of the participating community pharmacies across region.
“If you are aged 75 or over or live in a care home for older adults and are yet to get vaccinated, now is the time to come forward. Although RSV spreads most in winter, this virus poses a risk all year round, so if you’ve been offered the jab, please come forward to your GP or local participating pharmacy.”
“The vaccine saves lives, it’s as simple as that.”
RSV is a common virus that infects the lungs. While symptoms are mild for many people, the virus can be severe in older adults, causing pneumonia, bronchitis and flare-ups of existing lung disease and other long-term conditions. This can make it difficult to breathe and leave some older people requiring hospital treatment.
Millions of people aged 75 years and over and all residents in care homes for older adults are already able to get the RSV vaccine ahead of this winter – and since 2024, the NHS has also offered the RSV vaccine to all pregnant women, helping to protect 300,000 mothers and babies in its first year alone.
The latest expansion comes after the government accepted advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to expand eligibility for the RSV vaccination programme in England.
The vaccine works by stimulating the body to produce antibodies for the RSV virus by giving a small amount of RSV protein in the jab. This means that when the actual virus enters the body, the immune system can act much quicker to remove the threat.
A study published by the UK Health Security Agency shows the RSV vaccine provided strong protection for older people and is around 82% effective in preventing hospital admissions with RSV infection.
