Respiratory syncytial virus affects the chest and lungs, and can cause very serious illness for older people
From September 2024, older people will be offered an RSV vaccine following their 75th birthday. This one-off vaccine will help to protect you from the risk of serious illness caused by RSV.
The vaccine has been fully tested and trialled, and is safe and effective. It is already in use in countries around the world, and has been shown to significantly reduce the number of hospital admissions related to RSV among older people.
You may be invited to receive the vaccine at your GP surgery or one of the health board's vaccination centres. Please look out for your invitation, or bookable clinics advertised by your surgery.
People who live in a care home or who are housebound will be offered the vaccine in their home.
For over-75s, the vaccine will not be offered at the same time as seasonal flu and COVID-19 booster vaccines.
Please take up the offer to protect yourself from the risk of serious illness.
People aged 75 to 80 (born on or after September 1 1944) will be invited to receive the RSV vaccine in the coming months. This catch-up vaccination programme will run over the next 12 months, with all eligible people offered the vaccine by August 31 2025.