What is RSV?

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is an infectious disease of the airways and lungs.  RSV infection often causes symptoms similar to a cold, including cough, sore throat, sneezing and runny or blocked nose. It can make you become wheezy or short of breath and lead to pneumonia and other life-threatning conditions.  

RSV can be more severe in people with medical conditions such as heart or lung disease or a weakened immune system.

How do you catch RSV?

RSV infections can occur all year round but cases peak every winter.

RSV can spread through coughs and sneezes.  You can help to prevent the virus by covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze (ideally with a tissue, or else into the bend of your elbow), and washing your hands frequently to reduce the risk of oucking up the virus.  Even withpit these measures it can difficult to avoid RSV infection.

Who should have the RSV Vaccination?

Everyone turning 75 years old on or after the 1st September 2024 will be offered a single dose of RSV vaccine.  This is because older adults are more at risk of serious complications from RSV.  You can still get the vaccine up to the day before you turn 80.

For the first year of the programme, the vaccine will also be offered to those who are already aged 75 - 79 years on the 1st September as part of the catch up programme. 

For further information on the RSV vaccine please click on the following link: RSV Vaccine Leaflet.pdf