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.

• you’re 28 weeks pregnant or more
• you’re aged 75 or over
• you live in a care home for older adults

• poorly controlled asthma
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema
• bronchiectasis
• cystic fibrosis
• interstitial lung fibrosis
• pneumoconiosis
• bronchopulmonary dysplasia

• chronic respiratory disease
• immunosuppression due to disease or treatment

• 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.”
  

  NHS Confirms Major Vaccine Rollout for Pensioners Aged Between 65 and 74

  Thousands of people aged between 65 and 74 are now eligible for an expanded NHS vaccination programme, following a major change to the way protection against respiratory illness is offered to older adults.

  From September 1, 2026, the NHS expanded its respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, vaccination programme to include people aged 65 to 74 who have certain underlying clinical risk factors.

  The change is significant because the standard older-adult RSV programme previously focused mainly on people aged 75 and over, as well as certain people living in care homes.

  Under the new rules, eligible people aged 65 to 74 with a weakened immune system or chronic respiratory disease can receive a single RSV vaccine through the NHS.

  The announcement comes as the NHS prepares for another winter in which respiratory infections could place considerable pressure on hospitals and primary care services.

  Who aged 65 to 74 is eligible?

  The new programme does not mean that every person aged between 65 and 74 will automatically be offered an RSV vaccine.

  The expansion specifically covers adults in that age group who are considered to have certain clinical risk factors.

  The two principal groups are people who are immunosuppressed and people with chronic respiratory disease.

  The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, known as JCVI, recommended the expansion after reviewing evidence about the burden of RSV illness among adults with these conditions.

  The government confirmed the change in July, with the new eligibility criteria coming into effect from September 1, 2026.

  People aged 65 to 74 who do not fall into either of those risk categories are not automatically included simply because of their age.

  For them, the routine older-adult RSV programme generally begins at age 75.

  What is RSV?

  Respiratory syncytial virus is a common respiratory virus that can cause symptoms similar to a cold.

  For some people, however, particularly older adults and those with certain medical conditions, an RSV infection can become more serious.

  It can cause lower respiratory tract infections and can contribute to complications requiring hospital treatment.

  The risk is particularly relevant during winter, when several respiratory viruses circulate at the same time.

  The NHS therefore considers vaccination an important preventive measure for people who face a higher risk of severe disease.

  The government’s vaccination guidance says the programme is designed to reduce the risk of serious RSV illness among groups considered most vulnerable.

  One dose is required

  For eligible adults aged 65 to 74, the NHS RSV programme uses a single-dose schedule.

  The vaccine being used is Abrysvo, manufactured by Pfizer.

  Government guidance states that people in the 65-to-74 risk group who receive their RSV vaccination should not receive another dose when they subsequently turn 75.

  This is because the current programme requires only one dose for protection as part of the older-adult RSV programme.

  The policy could be reviewed in the future as further evidence becomes available, but there is currently no recommendation for people vaccinated under the expanded 65-to-74 programme to receive another routine dose when they reach 75.

  The programme has already expanded beyond the original age group

  The latest announcement is part of a series of changes to the NHS RSV programme.

  RSV vaccination for older adults was introduced in September 2024, initially focusing on people turning 75, together with a catch-up programme for people aged 75 to 79 at the beginning of the scheme.

  The programme was subsequently expanded.

  From April 1, 2026, it was extended to all adults aged 80 and over who had not previously received the vaccine, as well as all residents of older-adult care homes.

  The September 2026 change has therefore created another layer of protection for younger older adults who have particular clinical vulnerabilities.

  The programme is described by the government as an ongoing, year-round vaccination programme rather than a short seasonal campaign.

  Flu vaccination remains available from age 65

  The RSV announcement should not be confused with the separate annual flu vaccination programme.

  People aged 65 and over remain eligible for an NHS flu vaccine.

  Government guidance for the 2026 flu season confirms that everyone aged 65 and above is included in the programme from October 1.

  Other groups, including people in long-stay residential care homes and those with specified clinical risk factors, are also eligible.

  This means a person aged 65 to 74 could potentially be eligible for both the annual flu vaccine and the RSV vaccine if they meet the RSV clinical criteria.

  The two vaccines protect against different viruses.

  Flu vaccination is designed to reduce the risk associated with influenza, while RSV vaccination targets respiratory syncytial virus.

  COVID vaccination has different age criteria

  There is another important distinction concerning COVID-19 vaccination.

  The autumn 2026 COVID-19 programme in England is not being offered routinely to everyone aged 65 and over.

  The government says the autumn COVID vaccine will be offered from October to people aged 75 and over, residents of older-adult care homes and people aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed.

  Consequently, a healthy person aged 65 to 74 should not assume that the new RSV eligibility rules mean they are automatically entitled to an autumn COVID booster.

  The eligibility criteria for each vaccination programme are separate.

  Why the NHS is targeting higher-risk groups

  The decision to extend RSV vaccination to certain people aged 65 to 74 followed an assessment of disease burden and the risk associated with specific medical conditions.

  JCVI reviewed evidence relating to hospitalisation and mortality among adults with particular health conditions.

  The committee concluded that people aged 65 to 74 who are immunosuppressed or have chronic respiratory disease face sufficient risk to justify inclusion in the national programme.

  This reflects a broader principle behind NHS vaccination policy: age is important, but it is not the only factor.

  Someone aged 68 with a significant underlying respiratory condition may face a very different risk from someone of the same age without those vulnerabilities.

  The expanded programme is designed to account for that difference.

  What counts as chronic respiratory disease?

  The government guidance provides clinical definitions for the conditions covered by the programme.

  The eligible category includes certain long-term respiratory diseases, although not every respiratory condition automatically qualifies.

  For example, the guidance distinguishes between chronic respiratory disease and well-controlled asthma.

  This means patients should not assume that having any history of breathing difficulties automatically makes them eligible.

  Healthcare professionals can determine whether a patient’s condition falls within the criteria.

  The same principle applies to immunosuppression, which can result from certain illnesses or medical treatments.

  How people will receive the vaccine

  Eligible adults are expected to be identified through NHS records and offered vaccination through the appropriate healthcare service.

  The exact process can vary depending on where a person lives and how their local NHS vaccination service is organised.

  The government has instructed healthcare professionals to identify eligible adults and offer the vaccine.

  People who believe they meet the criteria but have not received an invitation can contact their GP or relevant NHS vaccination service to check their eligibility.

  The NHS also advises people who believe they have missed a vaccination to contact their GP surgery.

  Winter pressure remains a major concern

  The timing of the expansion is important.

  Winter traditionally brings increased pressure on the NHS as influenza, RSV, COVID-19 and other respiratory infections circulate.

  Older adults are among those most vulnerable to complications from respiratory infections.

  The government says it expects a range of respiratory infections to circulate at higher levels during the winter period and that this could increase pressure on hospitals and other healthcare services.

  Vaccination is therefore one part of a wider strategy designed to reduce preventable illness and hospital admissions.

  The NHS will still face challenges from people who become seriously ill despite vaccination, as no vaccine provides complete protection.

  What pensioners should check

  For people aged 65 to 74, the key question is not simply their age.

  They should check which vaccination programmes they qualify for.

  Everyone aged 65 and over is included in the annual flu vaccination programme.

  Those aged 65 to 74 with qualifying chronic respiratory disease or immunosuppression are now eligible for the RSV vaccine.

  People aged 75 and over have broader RSV eligibility, while the autumn COVID programme also focuses on people aged 75 and above, care-home residents and immunosuppressed individuals.

  The different age thresholds can make the NHS vaccination system appear complicated, but they reflect separate decisions based on the risks associated with each infection.

  A significant expansion, but not a blanket vaccine offer

  The latest NHS announcement is therefore significant for a specific group of pensioners.

  From September 2026, adults aged 65 to 74 who are immunosuppressed or have qualifying chronic respiratory disease have joined the national RSV vaccination programme.

  But the change does not mean every person aged 65 to 74 will automatically receive an RSV vaccine.

  The distinction is important for anyone trying to understand their eligibility.

  The wider NHS vaccination programme now provides several layers of protection for older adults, including annual flu vaccination from age 65, RSV vaccination for eligible groups and targeted COVID vaccination for those at greatest risk.

  As winter approaches, healthcare professionals are encouraging eligible people to take up the vaccines offered to them.

  For pensioners and their families, checking eligibility early can help ensure that recommended vaccinations are received before respiratory infections become more widespread.

  The new 65-to-74 RSV programme represents another step in the NHS’s effort to protect older and clinically vulnerable adults, while the separate flu and COVID programmes continue according to their own eligibility rules.