RSV Vaccine

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is an RNA virus which is a common cause of respiratory tract infections. It usually causes a mild self-limiting respiratory infection in adults and children but can be severe in infants and older adults who are at increased risk of acute lower respiratory tract infection. 

RSV infects up to 90% of children within the first 2 years of life and frequently reinfects older children and adults.

For most people, RSV infection causes a mild respiratory illness with a range of symptoms such as rhinitis (runny nose, sneezing or nasal congestion), cough, shortness of breath, fever, lethargy and decreased appetite.

An RSV vaccine should be offered to:

• adults aged 75 years old on or after 1st September 2024, who remain eligible until their 80th birthday
• all pregnant women from 28 weeks gestation

Eligible individuals will have been born on or after 1st September 1949 and become eligible on their birthday (not before). 

A BSL video is available to view on YouTube

Published: Feb 12, 2026