NHS Confirms Major Vaccine Rollout for Older Adults from September – Thousands More to Receive Protection
The NHS is preparing to expand its vaccination programme for older adults, with thousands more vulnerable people set to become eligible for a potentially life-saving jab from September 2026.
The expansion is aimed at protecting people who face a greater risk of serious illness from respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV.
Under the new arrangements, adults aged between 65 and 74 who have certain underlying health conditions will be offered the RSV vaccine through the NHS.
The announcement represents another significant step in efforts to protect older people from serious respiratory infections ahead of the winter months, when viruses such as RSV can place considerable pressure on hospitals and healthcare services.
For eligible patients, vaccination will be available through GP practices and, in some areas, participating pharmacies.
However, the changes do not mean that every person aged 65 and over will automatically qualify for the new September RSV offer.
The expanded eligibility applies to specific clinical risk groups identified following advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
Who will qualify for the new vaccine offer?
From September 1, 2026, the NHS RSV vaccination programme in England will include adults aged 65 to 74 who are either immunosuppressed or living with certain chronic respiratory conditions.
This includes people whose immune systems have been weakened by particular illnesses or medical treatments.
Patients receiving chemotherapy or certain immunosuppressive medicines may fall within the eligible categories, depending on their clinical circumstances.
The respiratory conditions covered include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, bronchiectasis and cystic fibrosis.
People with certain forms of poorly controlled asthma may also qualify.
Other conditions listed in the clinical guidance include interstitial lung fibrosis, pneumoconiosis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
The precise eligibility criteria are based on the NHS clinical guidance, meaning that patients should check with their GP if they are uncertain whether their condition qualifies.
The expansion follows a review by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which considered evidence about the risk of severe RSV infection among different groups of older adults.
The committee identified people aged 65 to 74 with chronic respiratory disease or immunosuppression as groups facing a higher risk of serious outcomes.
The Government accepted the recommendation, allowing the NHS to prepare the expanded programme for September.
What is RSV and why is it dangerous?
Respiratory syncytial virus is a common virus that infects the lungs and respiratory tract.
For many healthy adults, an RSV infection causes symptoms resembling an ordinary cold.
These can include a runny nose, cough, sneezing, fever and tiredness.
Most people recover without needing hospital treatment.
However, the infection can be much more serious for older adults and people with certain underlying health conditions.
RSV can cause inflammation of the small airways and lead to conditions such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.
It can also aggravate existing respiratory problems, making it harder for someone with a chronic lung condition to breathe.
For vulnerable patients, an infection may result in a hospital admission and a prolonged recovery.
The risks are particularly concerning during winter, when respiratory viruses circulate more widely and hospitals often experience increased demand.
Older people may also have several long-term health conditions at the same time, making it more difficult for their bodies to cope with an additional infection.
This is why health officials have placed greater emphasis on identifying people who are most likely to suffer serious complications.
A wider programme already protects older people
The September expansion builds on an RSV vaccination programme that has already been introduced for older adults.
Since September 2024, the NHS has routinely offered the vaccine to people when they reach the age of 75.
An initial catch-up programme was also introduced for people who were aged between 75 and 79 when the scheme began.
Further changes took effect on April 1, 2026.
These extended eligibility to all adults aged 80 and over who had not previously received the vaccine, as well as adults living in care homes for older people.
The September changes therefore widen the programme to include additional vulnerable people below the age of 75.
NHS England reported that 519,571 people aged 80 and over received an RSV vaccination during the three months following the April expansion.
That figure illustrates the scale of the existing programme and the importance of reaching older people who may otherwise be at risk of serious respiratory illness.
The NHS hopes that extending eligibility will help prevent avoidable hospital admissions and reduce the burden on healthcare services during the colder months.
How will the vaccination work?
Eligible adults will be offered a single dose of the RSV vaccine.
The vaccine used in the older-adult programme is Abrysvo, manufactured by Pfizer.
It works by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies against RSV.
If a vaccinated person subsequently encounters the virus, their immune system should be better prepared to respond.
The purpose is to reduce the risk of severe illness and hospitalisation rather than guarantee that infection cannot occur.
According to NHS guidance, the older-adult RSV programme is intended to continue throughout the year.
Although RSV activity generally increases during the winter, the virus can circulate at other times, so vaccination does not have to be restricted to a short seasonal campaign.
People who receive the RSV vaccine as part of the programme currently require only one dose.
There is also an important rule for people who become eligible through different categories.
For example, someone who receives the vaccine between the ages of 65 and 74 because of an eligible health condition should not automatically be offered another dose when they reach 75.
The same principle applies to people who have already received a dose through the older-adult or care-home programme.
What about flu and COVID vaccinations?
The RSV expansion comes as the NHS prepares for its wider autumn and winter vaccination activity.
However, it is important to distinguish between the different vaccination programmes because their eligibility rules and start dates are not identical.
The autumn 2026 COVID-19 vaccination programme is scheduled to run from October 1, 2026, until January 31, 2027.
The eligible groups include adults aged 75 and over, residents in care homes for older adults and people aged six months and over who are immunosuppressed under the relevant clinical definition.
The seasonal flu vaccination programme for adults is also expected to begin in October.
Adults aged 65 and over are among the groups eligible for the NHS flu vaccine.
This means older people may receive several different vaccination offers during the autumn, depending on their age, medical circumstances and previous vaccination history.
In some circumstances, COVID-19 and RSV vaccines can be administered during the same appointment.
The NHS says that offering vaccinations together where appropriate can reduce the number of visits patients need to make and help healthcare teams deliver the programmes efficiently.
Patients should follow the advice provided by their GP or vaccination provider about which vaccines they are eligible to receive and when.
Why the expansion matters for the NHS
Winter places considerable pressure on the health service.
Hospitals must manage increased admissions involving respiratory infections while continuing to provide treatment for emergencies, long-term conditions and planned procedures.
Older patients with serious respiratory infections can require oxygen, specialist monitoring and sometimes intensive hospital care.
Preventing some of these admissions could make a meaningful difference to both patients and the wider healthcare system.
Vaccination is one part of that strategy.
The NHS also encourages people to seek medical advice when symptoms become concerning, particularly if they experience significant breathing difficulties or a deterioration in an existing health condition.
People living with older relatives or other vulnerable individuals can also help reduce infection risks by practising good hygiene and avoiding close contact when they are unwell.
The expansion is particularly relevant to people who may not previously have considered themselves eligible for an RSV vaccination because they were younger than 75.
The new criteria recognise that certain health conditions can increase the risk of serious infection even before someone reaches the traditional age threshold.
What should eligible people do next?
Adults aged 65 to 74 who have a chronic respiratory condition or are immunosuppressed should check whether they meet the updated criteria.
Their GP practice should be able to advise them about eligibility and vaccination arrangements.
Some areas may also provide access through participating pharmacies.
Anyone who is unsure about their medical category should avoid relying solely on general descriptions online, as the clinical definitions can be specific.
The NHS guidance provides the detailed criteria for healthcare professionals to determine who should be offered the vaccine.
For older adults who are already eligible, the message is also straightforward: if they have not yet received their recommended RSV vaccination, they should contact their GP or local vaccination provider.
The September expansion is part of a broader effort to protect people who face the greatest risk from respiratory infections.
As the colder months approach, the NHS is seeking to reach more vulnerable adults before winter illnesses place additional pressure on their health.
For thousands of people aged 65 to 74 with qualifying medical conditions, the change could provide access to protection that was not previously available to them through the national older-adult RSV programme.
The key message is that age is not the only factor determining risk.
For some people, an underlying respiratory condition or weakened immune system can make an otherwise common virus much more dangerous.
By extending the vaccination offer, the NHS aims to give those patients an additional opportunity to protect their health before the winter season.